Harry Dean Stanton, a veteran star of the big screen and small screen, died on Friday afternoon at Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
He was 91 years old.
The actor broke out in the film Paris, Texas and was also famous for roles in Twin Peaks, Big Love, Pretty in Pink and Repo Man.
Altogether, the legendary thespian’s career spanned six decades and his final performance will air later this month when the movie Lucky hits theaters.
It centers on an atheist who comes to terms with his own mortality.
On HBO’s Big Love, Stanton portrayed Roman Grant, while he recently appeared as Carl Rodd in the Twin Peaks revival on Showtime.
Stanton was already 58 years old when he nabbed his first leading role in the aforementioned Paris, Texas.
Written by Sam Shepard, the movie won the Palme d’Ora at the Cannes Film Festival in 1984, catapulting Stanton to the big time in the process.
“Stanton has long inhabited the darker corners of American noir, with his lean face and hungry eyes, and here he creates a sad poetry,” wrote famed critic Roger Ebert in response to the performance.
In 1986, Stanton found mainstream success when he played Molly Ringwald’s unemployed father in Pretty in Pink.
Years later, he portrayed a fiery Paul/Saul in Martin Scorsese’s controversial movie The Last Temptation of Christ, although the actor was among those in the film criticized by many as being miscast.
The late star was also good friends (and former roommates) with Jack Nicholson; the two appeared opposite each other in Ride in the Whirlwind.
Along with acting, Stanton sang and played rhythm guitar and harmonica in a Tex-Mex band that did weekly gigs at The Mint in Los Angeles.
Said Twin Peaks creator David Lynch upon learning of Stanton’s death:
“The great Harry Dean Stanton has left us.
“There went a great one. There’s nobody like Harry Dean. Everyone loved him. And with good reason. He was a great actor (actually beyond great) — and a great human being — so great to be around him!!! You are really going to be missed Harry Dean!!!
“Loads of love to you wherever you are now!!!”
Stanton was in the Navy in World War II and fought in the Battle of Okinawa.
His agent says that Stanton “is survived by family and friends who loved him.
May he rest in peace.
