M. Emmet Walsh, Iconic Character Actor, Dead At 88
M. Emmet Walsh has died at the age of 88, Deadline confirmed on March 20, 2024. In a statement to the news outlet, the late actor's manager, Sandy Joseph, revealed that he passed away after going into cardiac arrest at Kerbs Memorial Hospital in Vermont.
Walsh is best known for his roles in the Harrison Ford-led sci-fi favorite "Blade Runner," the Oscar-winning drama "Ordinary People," and the Julia Roberts rom-com "My Best Friend's Wedding." In addition to his stacked filmography, the beloved talent also made a name for himself in the television sphere, starring on classic shows like "Bonanza" and "All in the Family," among others. Walsh is survived by his niece Meagan Walsh, his nephew Kevin Walsh and his grandnephews Emmet and Elliot.
More to come...
Cinephiles mourn the loss of character actor M. Emmet Walsh
Following M. Emmet Walsh's death, fans of the beloved actor flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, with bittersweet tributes. One fan wrote, "The ultimate character actor? More than a character actor?! A totally unique screen presence whose performance were as fun as his name is to say out loud. RIP to the great M. Emmet Walsh." Another fan tweeted, "M. Emmet Walsh. An actor who would have fit in just fine with the other great character players of Classic Hollywood. Pantheon level. May he RIP."
As his fans have mentioned, Walsh earned a reputation for creating unique and memorable characters throughout his five-decade career and 233 acting credits. In addition to moviegoers, the 88-year-old's talent has also captivated his peers like Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon, who recently gushed about working with him on "A Little White Lie" in 2022. "That was kind of a dream come true. I've been watching him for years, and much like when I got the opportunity to work with Christopher Plummer in Knives Out," the "Bullet Train" star explained to Collider. "You know, getting an opportunity to work with someone with decades of experience and someone so firmly etched into the cinema landscape, you know."
As for Walsh, the "Blood Simple" star constantly expressed his love for character work. In 2014, he told The Denver Gazette, "I don't want to play the same type of character 10 times. I want to be a garbage collector in one film and a governor in the next."