Harry Dean Stanton Is Dead

ORIGIN
Harry Dean Stanton was an American actor, guitarist, and singer. He was known for films like The Godfather Part II (1974), Cool Hand Luke (1967), Paris, Texas (1984), and Repo Man (1984). He had memorable roles in the television series Big Love and Twin Peaks. Stanton was born on July 14, 1926, in West Irvine, Kentucky. His father, Sheridan, was a tobacco farmer, and his mother, Ersel, was a hairdresser. He had three younger brothers, Ralph, Archie, and Stan. Stanton attended Lafayette High School followed by the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. He studied journalism and radio arts but dropped out before completing a degree. Stanton served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as a cook during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa.

CAREER
Prior to film/television, Stanton made a living as a singer and guitarist. He sang in a barbershop quartet during his high school years. He later performed with a touring 24-piece choral group. He also had his own group, The Harry Dean Stanton Band. Stanton began pursuing acting at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena in 1949. In the late 1950s, he appeared in television shows like Rawhide, Zane Grey Theater, and Gunsmoke. His early film credits include Tomahawk Trail (1957) with Chuck Connors, and Ride in the Whirlwind (1966) with Jack Nicholson. Stanton was cast as “Tramp”, a singer prisoner in the prison-drama, Cool Hand Luke (1967). In the 1970s he appeared in films like Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), The Godfather II (1974), and Alien (1979). He voiced the character “Balthazar” from the animated film Rango (2012). He worked with a number of filmmakers including Monte Hellman, David Lynch, and Sam Peckinpah.

Stanton starred as “Travis Henderson” opposite Nastassja Kinski in the road movie Paris, Texas (1984). The film was directed by Wim Wenders. Other 1980s films include Repo Man (1984) with Emilio Estevez, Pretty in Pink (1986) with Molly Ringwald, and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) with Willem Dafoe. His more recent films include The Green Mile (1999), Seven Psychopaths (2012), The Avengers (2012), and Lucky (2017). Stanton starred as “Roman Grant” in the HBO drama series Big Love (2006-10). He had a recurring role as “Carl Rodd” on the Showtime series Twin Peaks (2017). His television credits also include The Untouchables, Bonanza, Two and a Half Men, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Chuck, and Getting On.

PERSONAL
Harry Dean Stanton died on September 15, 2017, at the age of 91. His reported cause of death was natural causes. He passed away peacefully at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Stanton dated actress Rebecca De Mornay back in the early 1980s. He was never married and had no children. He’s survived by family and friends. Stanton had a peak height of 5ft 8in and he was of English, Irish and Scottish ancestry. His net worth was estimated at $10 million prior to his death.

Harry Dean Stanton Bio, Net Worth, Height