Harris Yulin, the character actor of films best known for such cinematic classics asScarface,Clear and Present Danger, andGhostbusters 2, passed away this past Tuesday in New York City. Yulin was 87, and his death was announced by his manager, Sue Leibman, as well as his family.
Per Deadline’s report, Yulin passed away from cardiac arrest. The actor was very active before his passing, and he was scheduled to begin production onthe MGM+ series,American Classic. The show was set to reunite him withOzarkco-star Laura Linney, as well as Kevin Kline. Director Michael Hoffman was quick in reacting to the news:
“Harris Yulin was very simply one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered. His marriage of immense technique with an always fresh sense of discovery, gave his work an immediacy and vitality and purity I’ve experienced nowhere else. And what he was as an actor, he was as a man, the grace, the humility, the generosity. All of us at American Classic have been blessed by our experience with him. He will always remain the beating heart of our show.”
40 Years Later — The Cultural Impact of Scarface
Four decades down the line, Scarface by Brian De Palma still holds a tremendous legacy throughout the realms of film, music, and even video games.
Alongside his Hollywood career,Yulin was also a Broadway star. He debuted in the 1980s withWatch on the Rhine, and was then featured in stage versions ofThe Diary of Anne FrankandHedda Gabler. Off Broadway, he starred inDeath of a Salesman,Long Day’s Journey Into Night,andCat on a Hot Tin Roof. Nevertheless, his most prominent roles were in feature films. He played shady police officer Mel Bernstein in 1983’sScarface, and the corrupt security advisor in 1994’sClear and Present Danger.
The actor was also very prolific on television, having appeared in more than 20 shows and made-for-TV films in the 1970s. In 1996, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his guest appearance in the sitcomFrasier. In the 2000s, he was featured in hit shows such asBuffy the Vampire Slayer,24,The X-Files,EntourageandDamages.
Harris Yulin Was One of the Most Underrated Character Actors
Harris Yulin was a bona fide character actor with more than 100 credits to his name, and often played grumpy and ill-tempered characters that made you point at the screen and whistle in recognition much like Leonardo DiCaprio’s meme fromOnce Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Wherever he appeared, you recognized him thanks to his familiar face and ability to always steal every scene he was in.
One of his best and most memorable roles saw him being hilarious in a cameo performance as the ruthless judge inGhostbusters 2,who pardons the ghost hunters after angry spirits storm the courtroom. But the late actor was also known for his versatility, something that was perhaps never more visible than when playingOzark’s most underrated character, Buddy Dieker. Yulin had a key presence in Season 1 of the Netflix show, delivering one of his most resonant performances in his late career. The actor is survived by his wife, the actress Kristen Lowman.
Source:Deadline
