Powers Boothe, the legendary character actor with a booming voice to fit his tremendous presence and talent, has passed away today at the age of 68. The news was broken by fellow actor and friend Beau Bridges, with reports saying he died peacefully in his home in Los Angeles.
Bridges took to Twitter to announce the death of his dear friend Sunday afternoon:
The name of the Texas-born actor alone can get the brain reeling with recognizable performances. With a career that began in theater performing the works of Shakespeare and more, the actor was known most for playing tough-guy supporting characters in movies like RED DAWN, TOMBSTONE, FRAILTY and MEN OF HONOR. He also took the TV world by storm with terrific performances on shows like HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS and DEADWOOD, having won an Emmy in 1980 for his work on GUYANA TRAGEDY: THE STORY OF JIM JONES, which launched him into the public eye.
But his powerful stature and grizzled voice was just as notable in the new millennium, with parts in movies like SIN CITY (and the sequel, A DAME TO KILL FOR) as Senator Roark, in THE AVENGERS (and again in AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Gideon Malick, and doing a hilarious turn as the serious end to Will Forte’s lunacy in MACGRUBER. His recognizeable could also be heard on numerous animated shows, like JUSTICE LEAGUE (notably as Gorilla Grodd), BEN 10 and SCOOBY-DOO. The man did it all!
The actor’s immense talents have stretched across all different genres and mediums, leaving his mark on every project he touched. Above all he was a loving husband to his wife Pam Cole, and an adored father to his two kids Parisse and Preston. No one had the same kind of presence he did on the screen – small or big – and such a void will be impossible to fill. Now the only question to ask yourself is which amazing movie and/or show of his will you watch in his honor. Better get started.