Ed Lauter

Edward Matthew Lauter Jr., widely known as Ed Lauter, was an American actor and stand-up comedian whose career spanned over four decades. Born and raised in Long Beach, New York, he was the son of a 1920s Broadway actress and dancer, Sally Lee, and Edward Matthew Lauter. Of German and Irish descent, Lauter served in the U.S. Army for two years after earning his B.A. degree in English Literature from C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. His first acting stint was on the Broadway production of The Great White Hope in 1968, however, before this, he had been a stand-up comedian. Lauter made his on-screen debut in 1971 on an episode of the TV series Mannix. His first big-screen role came a year later in the Western Dirty Little Billy. The actor was known for his tall height and distinct balding looks.

Over the years, Lauter appeared in high-profile films like The Longest Yard, Breakheart Pass, King Kong, Death Hunt, Cujo, and The Artist. His television appearances include roles in How the West Was Won, The New Land, The X-Files, and ER amongst numerous others. On October 16, 2013, two weeks shy of his 75th birthday, Lauter succumbed to mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. His family subsequently filed a lawsuit against several broadcasting, automotive, and manufacturing companies, alleging that Lauter was exposed to asbestos at various movie studios and location sets over his career which led to his untimely death.