RIP Ed Lauter
October 17, 2013 6:19 PM Subscribe
Character actor Ed Lauter has died. In a career that spanned over forty years, he was a familiar face on both television and film (and active until the end with appearances in "Trouble With The Curve" and "The Artist"). And with the greatest respect and affection, he also costarred in one the greatest bad films of the eighties.
He had a good Random Roles interview last year.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 7:03 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 7:03 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Some of my favorites:
Cujo
Fat Man and Little Boy
Mullholland Falls
Born of the Fourth of July
Original Longest Yard and the remake
and about a billion cop/detective TV shows of my youth.
posted by Toekneesan at 7:20 PM on October 17, 2013
Cujo
Fat Man and Little Boy
Mullholland Falls
Born of the Fourth of July
Original Longest Yard and the remake
and about a billion cop/detective TV shows of my youth.
posted by Toekneesan at 7:20 PM on October 17, 2013
I had the pleasure of working on "The Rocketeer", one of his films.
RIP
.
posted by dbiedny at 7:34 PM on October 17, 2013
RIP
.
posted by dbiedny at 7:34 PM on October 17, 2013
Ed Lauter may have been a bit typecast, mostly playing tough guys of one sort or another, but he was darned good at it.
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(And yes, "Death Wish 3" is both bad and great, or greatly bad, or something. As dumb, violent and exploitative as it is, there's something oddly watchable about it.)
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 9:27 PM on October 17, 2013
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(And yes, "Death Wish 3" is both bad and great, or greatly bad, or something. As dumb, violent and exploitative as it is, there's something oddly watchable about it.)
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 9:27 PM on October 17, 2013
Hey, it's that guy who I always think is Craig T. Nelson!
posted by klangklangston at 10:06 PM on October 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by klangklangston at 10:06 PM on October 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
The only thing I remember him from is where he played the father of that cadet who died in that episode of ST:TNG where Ray from My Favorite Martian plays a cranky gardener. He had such a sad look on his face. I will remember that face until the day I die.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:46 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:46 PM on October 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Certain character actors mark the time of my childhood. Ed Lauter, Charles Napier, George Dzundza always come to mind.
RIP, Ed.
posted by Thistledown at 4:47 AM on October 18, 2013
RIP, Ed.
posted by Thistledown at 4:47 AM on October 18, 2013
Hey, it's that guy who I always think is Craig T. Nelson!
Or Lee Van Cleef.
posted by three blind mice at 5:45 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Or Lee Van Cleef.
posted by three blind mice at 5:45 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
I consider myself to be an expert on Hey It's That Guys, but Ed Lauter was always, always one I could never remember from role to role. Every single time: "Oh, that guy... dammit, who is he... Richard Jenkins? No... [checks IMDB] Ed Lauter. Remember that for next time." Next time: "Oh, that guy... dammit, who is he... [checks IMDB] You win again, Lauter."
One of the all-time great "working actors." By casting him, directors knew he would bring exactly what Ed Lauter brought, and by god, he brought it every time.
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posted by Etrigan at 6:21 AM on October 18, 2013
One of the all-time great "working actors." By casting him, directors knew he would bring exactly what Ed Lauter brought, and by god, he brought it every time.
.
posted by Etrigan at 6:21 AM on October 18, 2013
Am I the only one irritated by the fact that the CNN link (first link in the FPP) tops the Lauter obit with a jamboree of faces of people who died, died, rather than showing us clearly who Lauter is? Man can't even get his own obituary.
"(CNN) -- A face you know is gone."
Indeed. Gone from this news article, in fact.
posted by chavenet at 6:38 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
"(CNN) -- A face you know is gone."
Indeed. Gone from this news article, in fact.
posted by chavenet at 6:38 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
He was a great villain/heel. Whenever I saw him come onscreen, I would immediately think "This character is a prick."
posted by snottydick at 6:55 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by snottydick at 6:55 AM on October 18, 2013
One of the best things about his career was that he played two different villains on both The Equalizer and The A Team.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:03 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:03 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
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His face looked familiar, but I can't pin down down a single role.
posted by Mezentian at 8:02 AM on October 18, 2013
His face looked familiar, but I can't pin down down a single role.
posted by Mezentian at 8:02 AM on October 18, 2013
It shouldn't go unmentioned that Ed was one hell of a raconteur. He was a charming, engaging storyteller who would spellbind an audience whenever there was downtime, or some R&R.
He also did insanely great impressions, like Clint Eastwood.
RIP.
posted by ScarletPumpernickel at 3:25 AM on October 19, 2013
He also did insanely great impressions, like Clint Eastwood.
RIP.
posted by ScarletPumpernickel at 3:25 AM on October 19, 2013
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posted by ogooglebar at 2:38 PM on October 19, 2013
posted by ogooglebar at 2:38 PM on October 19, 2013
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Here's the scene that defines Ed Lauter for me (apologies, Ed, I'm sure there are others you'd rather choose):
Chris Knight: I'm sorry, but have you ever seen a body like this before in your life?
David Decker: She happens to be my daughter.
Chris Knight: Oh. Then I guess you have.
posted by zardoz at 6:52 PM on October 17, 2013 [5 favorites]