Ned Beatty–whose debut feature film role in 1972’s Deliverance kickstarted a memorable and varied career–has passed away at age 83.
The Oscar-nominated actor’s manager, Deborah Miller, confirmed the sad news, according to Deadline, saying Beatty passed away in his sleep of natural causes. Miller described Beatty as “an iconic, legendary talent” who “will be missed by us all.”
Beatty began his long acting career in the theater, and landed his first film role in John Boorman’s Deliverance–playing executive Bobby Trippe opposite Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight. Four years later, he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for playing Arthur Jensen in the Oscar-winning Network.
Genre fans will remember Beatty for his turns as Fr. Edwards in Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), as Lt. Stern in The Unholy (1988) and as Ernest Weller in Repossessed (1990).
Beatty’s other notable roles included Delbert Reese in Nashville (1975), Martin Dardis in All the President’s Men (1976), Lex Luthor’s bumbling henchman Otis in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) and the voice of Lotso in Toy Story 3 (2010).
Beatty is survived by his wife Sandra Johnson and his eight children and grandchildren.
The staff of Horror News Network extends its condolences to Beatty’s family, friends and colleagues.
