Actor Art Evans, best recognized for his roles in A Soldier’s Story and Die Hard 2, has passed away at the age of 82. His death occurred on Saturday, and was confirmed by his agents, LyNea Bell and Charleen McGuire, in a statement on Sunday. The actor’s cause of death was complications from diabetes, a condition he had struggled with for several years.
Evans’ wife, Babe Evans, shared a heartfelt tribute, describing her late husband as not only a talented actor but also a loving husband, friend, and a source of joy to all who knew him. “His laughter, passion, and love of life will be deeply missed,” she said. “Though our hearts are heavy, we celebrate the lasting legacy of joy and inspiration he leaves behind.”
Details regarding the memorial services will be provided soon, according to his agents.
Arthur James Evans was born in Berkeley, California, and made his acting debut in the play The Amen Corner by James Baldwin. He starred in the production at Frank Silvera’s Theater of Being in Los Angeles, and the show later moved to Broadway in 1965.
In the early 1970s, Evans appeared in a few uncredited film roles before landing a lead part in the 1975 TV movie The Orphan and the Dude. He portrayed the character Curtis “The Dude” Brown.
Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Evans featured in a variety of television series and films. His credits from this period include Leadbelly (1976), Youngblood (1978), MASH* (1979), The Fall Guy (1983), and Hill Street Blues (1981-1984).
Evans’ big break in cinema came in 1984 when he appeared in the highly regarded war drama A Soldier’s Story. In the film, he portrayed the sycophantic Private Wilkie, starring alongside Howard E. Rollins Jr. and Adolph Caesar. The film received three Academy Award nominations in 1985, including Best Picture.
In 1986, Evans joined the cast of the sitcom Nine to Five, a television adaptation of the popular film starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. He appeared in the series from 1986 to 1988, which also featured performances by Rachel Parton George, Rita Moreno, and Sally Struthers.
Evans later gained further recognition with his role in Die Hard 2, the sequel to the action-packed thriller starring Bruce Willis. He played Barnes, an air traffic controller who assists Willis’ character, John McClane.
Evans continued to stay active throughout the 1990s and 2000s, taking on roles in popular TV shows such as Doogie Howser, M.D. (1990), Family Matters (1994), Walker, Texas Ranger (1996), The X-Files (2000), and Monk (2006).
In a statement, his agents Bell and McGuire paid tribute to Evans, saying, “Art was a remarkable talent who touched many lives through his work. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Art’s legacy will never be forgotten.”
Evans’ last acting role was a two-episode voiceover appearance on the Disney+ animated series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder in 2022 and 2023.
He is survived by his wife, Babe, and their son, Ogadae.