Jackie Brown Star Robert Forster Dead at Age 78
It is with great sadness that ComingSoon.net must report (via The Hollywood Reporter) that beloved character actor and Jackie Brown Oscar-nominee Robert Forster has passed away at age 78. He died at his Los Angeles home from brain cancer, survived by his third wife, Evie, and his children Elizabeth, Kathrine and Maeghen and Robert.
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Forster made an auspicious debut at age 26 opposite Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor in John Huston’s 1967 film Reflections in a Golden Eye, memorably riding a horse naked in one scene. He followed that with the lead role in 1969’s Medium Cool, Haskell Wexler’s cinéma vérité-style narrative built around the real-life riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
After starring in two failed TV series, Forster’s once-promising career went into a steady decline as he began accepting character parts in exploitation and horror films such as 1978’s Avalanche, 1980’s Alligator, 1983’s Vigilante. and as the heavy opposite Chuck Norris in 1986’s The Delta Force. One highlight from this period is the big budget 1979 Disney production The Black Hole, a kind of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in space” meant to capitalize off the success of Star Wars. While not a financial or critical success, the film has a cult following and was at one point in development over the last decade for a remake at Disney.
By the 90’s Forster had lost all his representation and was forced to make direct-to-video fare like Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence and American Yakuza. That was until an ultra-hot filmmaker named Quentin Tarantino -fresh off his Pulp Fiction success- hired Forster to play bail bondsman Max Cherry, the male lead opposite Pam Grier in 1997’s Jackie Brown. His subtle, even-keeled performance opposite heavyweights like Robert De Niro and Samuel L. Jackson earned Forster an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and gave his career a new lease on life.
In the years that followed he would work with Gus Van Sant in the 1998 Psycho remake, opposite Jim Carrey in The Farrely Brothers’ Me, Myself & Irene, in Michel Gondry’s debut film Human Nature, 2003’s sequel Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, with Harrison Ford in Firewall (2006), with Matthew McConaughey in Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past (2009), opposite George Clooney in Alexander Payne’s Best Picture-nominee The Descendants, and opposite Gerard Butler in the action hit Olympus Has Fallen and its sequel London Has Fallen. He also forged a working relationship with David Lynch, appearing in the director’s 2001 hit Mulholland Drive and in the 2017 Twin Peaks revival.
Forster’s final film role ironically premiered today on Netflix, the Breaking Bad sequel film El Camino, reprising his role as Ed from the TV series.
I’m saddened today by the news that Robert Forster has passed away. A lovely man and a consummate actor. I met him on the movie Alligator (pic) 40 years ago, and then again on BB. I never forgot how kind and generous he was to a young kid just starting out in Hollywood. RIP Bob. pic.twitter.com/HtunD0Fx6g
— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) October 12, 2019
Very saddened to hear Robert Forster has passed away. Dude radiated a kind-hearted spirit and a reassuring presence in everything he ever appeared in, and was by all accounts an absolute sweetheart in real life. RIP to a legit legend. pic.twitter.com/7yKMxEoZUt
— Scott Wampler (@ScottWamplerBMD) October 12, 2019
A legend has left us. One of the best. I was so fortunate to be able to work with him on HEROES. What a talent and what a beautiful person. #RIPRobertForster https://t.co/GmUgRvlnce
— Greg Grunberg (@greggrunberg) October 12, 2019
Four essential Robert Forster films that aren’t JACKIE BROWN. pic.twitter.com/0ErNkyP2De
— C. Robert Cargill (@Massawyrm) October 12, 2019
RIP Robert Forster. pic.twitter.com/wK3yf4vQFH
— The Black List (@theblcklst) October 12, 2019
Had the honor of making this little gem of a movie (Diamond Men) with this incredible gem of a man — Robert Forster.
Truly one of the kindest, most giving actors/human beings that I’ve ever worked with, and forever a dear friend. He’ll be missed.#RIPRobertForster pic.twitter.com/zs01y3wtvl
— Donnie Wahlberg (@DonnieWahlberg) October 12, 2019
Ah, f..k. Robert Forster was among my favorite actors of any era. So good, so comfortable in his own leathery skin. Met him a few times. Always kind, huge @tcm fan. Kept dozens of wrapped letter openers in his trunk to give as gifts. Got one. Will watch Jackie Brown this weekend. https://t.co/KZq2RMvGHk
— Ben Mankiewicz (@BenMank77) October 12, 2019
Robert Forster
His beauty is always with us#RobertForster pic.twitter.com/JU3qNtWNxf— Greg Proops (@GregProops) October 12, 2019
I’m devastated. I had the great fortune of working with and knowing this man. He was a hero to me – a gentleman through and through. RIP, Robert Forster. pic.twitter.com/7eHPnuYhol
— Bruce Boxleitner (@boxleitnerbruce) October 12, 2019
Robert Forster. A gem. RIP.
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) October 12, 2019
Robert Forster had a unique presence that seemed of genuine empathy, but also you don’t want to mess with this guy; Usually separated, he embodied both.
He had greater performances, but these two minutes from Vigilante is as cool as it gets. “I want him.”
Robert Forster forever pic.twitter.com/2U5yGh4UgM
— John Frankensteiner (@JFrankensteiner) October 12, 2019
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
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