Tom Bauer, best known for his roles in The Waltons and Die Hard 2, passed away in his sleep on May 30 at the age of 86.
Bauer’s sister-in-law, Mary Miller, confirmed that the actor died at his Los Angeles home. The Hollywood Reporter It was reported on Thursday.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 07: Actor Tom Bauer arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of The Hateful Eight at the ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on December 7, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
Bauer played kindly janitor Marvin in “Die Hard 2” and the father of the 37th President of the United States in Oliver Stone’s 1995 film “Nixon.” He also appeared in 2009’s “Crazy Heart” and 2013’s “Out of the Fungus,” and most recently played Bob Odenkirk’s father in the short-lived AMC series “Lucky Hank,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Actor Tom Bauer, who played Dr. Curtis Willard in “The Waltons” and Marvin, the janitor who helps John McClane defeat terrorists at the airport in “Die Hard 2,” has passed away. He was 86 years old. pic.twitter.com/zJzOQ7Iao4
— Movie Web (@movieweb) June 6, 2024
On television, Bauer played pilot Rex Barker in the 1975 episode of The Waltons called “The Wing Walker”, and became a series regular the following season.
He continues to captivate audiences into his later years, appearing in Two Ways Home, Senior Love Triangle, and the Breaking Bad sequel El Camino in 2019. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he’ll appear in Fully Realized Humans in 2020 and Raymond & Ray in 2022.
Bauer has also appeared in Two Minute Warning (1976), Wild Rose (1984), River’s Edge (1986), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Raising Cain (1992), Present and Present Danger (1994) and The Killer Inside Me (2010). His IMDb page He lists 182 acting credits.
In addition to his acting talent, Bauer was serious about the entertainment industry and was a strong supporter of the Screen Actors Guild.
Tom Bauer has reportedly died in his sleep at his Los Angeles home after an acting career spanning five decades.https://t.co/vf0WWdyWKe
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) June 6, 2024
“He believed that all actors and all people should be represented respectfully,” Miller told The Hollywood Reporter. (RELATED: ‘General Hospital’ star Elizabeth McRae Halsey dies at 88)
Bauer is being remembered with love as fans and loved ones pay tribute and share their sadness to the star. He is survived by his children Viv and Rob, grandchildren Nicole, Jonathan, Lucille and Henry, brother Bobby and sister Shirley.
He was married to his wife, Ursula, for 51 years. “They never were apart for a day,” Miller said.
The official cause of the actor’s death is yet to be determined.
