Actor Dean Stockwell passed away on Sunday of natural causes at the age of 85.
Stockwell's career on stage and screen spanned seven decades. As a child, he co-starred with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly in Anchors Aweigh, alongside Gregory Peck and John Garfield in Gentleman's Agreement as well as appearing with William Powell and Myrna Loy in Song of the Thin Man. In early adulthood, he appeared in the film adaptation of A Long Day's Journey Into Night starring Ralph Richardson, Katharine Hepburn and Jason Robards. In later adulthood, he would appear in Dennis Hopper's The Last Movie as Billy the Kid.
Most of Stockwell's career during the 1960's and 1970's was on the small screen earning credits for The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Burke's Law, Dr. Kildare, Bonzana, Mannix (please see picture above), Mission: Impossible, Night Gallery, The Streets of San Francisco, Cannon, McCloud, Ellery Queen and Police Story.
Fans of Columbo will remember him as the absentee millionaire sports owner Eric Wagner who is cut down at the hands of Robert Culp in the Season 2 episode "The Most Crucial Game". Stockwell would also appeared as the mustachioed, unlucky in love musician Lloyd Harrington who is framed for murder by Robert Vaughn in Season 4's "Troubled Waters".
Most of Stockwell's success would come after the age of 50 with appearance in Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas, David Lynch's Blue Velvet and Jonathan Demme's Married to the Mob which earned him his only Academy Award nomination. Gen-Xers probably remember Stockwell for his portrayal of Al in the NBC hit series Quantam Leap with Scott Bakula. Stockwell was nominated for multiple Emmys and Golden Globes for his role winning a lone Golden Globe in 1990.
In the 2000's, Stockwell had recurring roles on JAG and the revival of Battlestar Galactica. After more than 200 credits under his belt, a stroke forced Stockwell to the sidelines in 2015. Stockwell was a long time resident of Taos, New Mexico where he spent a good deal of his time painting. As Stockwell put it, "And I can't wait to see where the road leads from here." Sadly, all journeys must come to an end. R.I.P.
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