It was less than a month ago when Harry Dean Stanton appeared in an episode of "Twin Peaks" as Carl Rodd, the owner of Fat Trout Trailer Park. On Thursday, the multitalented actor passed away in Los Angeles.
Stanton's death
Stanton passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and this was confirmed by his agent John S. Kelly. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
Though Stanton's most recent appearance was in the hit TV series "twin peaks," he will appear in one more project: the film "Frank and Ava," in which Stanton plays the role of Sheriff Lloyd.
The film will provide an account of the relationship between superstars Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner.
Stanton's life
Stanton was born July 14, 1926, in Irvine, Kentucky. He came from a musical family and said that he was at one point faced with the decision of pursuing a career as a singer or an actor. His musical abilities were showcased from time to time in his films, such as "Cool Hand Luke," in which he sang a memorable tune while Paul Newman's character spoke with his visiting mother.
Stanton went on to study journalism and radio arts at the University of Kentucky, where he also performed at the Guignol Theatre. He left university to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, which boasts alumni such as Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman.
Stanton also served in the United States Navy in World War II, during which time he served as a cook on a tank landing ship during the Battle of Okinawa.
Stanton's legacy
Largely a character actor throughout his career, Stanton will often be remembered for small yet memorable roles in great films. He played the role of Brett in Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic "Alien." He appeared as an inmate in the aforementioned "Cool Hand Luke." He had a terribly memorable role in "The Green Mile," the Frank Darabont adaptation of the Stephen King novel, in which Stanton played a quirky inmate who acted as the condemned prisoner for dry runs of executions by electric chair.
Stanton also found his way into a key role in a hit TV series, HBO's "Big Love." He played a prophetic polygamist named Roman Grant, who was loosely based on Rulon Jeffs, the former president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Stanton's greatest acting achievement, however, may have been his role in the film "Paris, Texas," a Palme d'Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival directed by German film legend Wim Wenders.
Stanton played a tortured man desperately struggling to deal with his past, and for much of the film he manages to speak volumes without saying a single word. Stanton received no accolades for his role in the film, which makes it one of the more under-appreciated performances of all time—a performance which famed film critic Roger Ebert referred to as a "miracle." If you watch one Harry Dean Stanton film, make it "Paris, Texas."
With three acting credits this year alone (not including the upcoming "Frank and Ava"), Stanton never slowed down despite his advanced age. Whether it was an awe-inspiring lead role, such as in "Paris, Texas," or an unforgettable bit part, such as in "The Green Mile," Stanton always provided films with an influx of captivating acting, and film enthusiasts will never forget him for that.
