M. Emmet Walsh, a character actor whose career spanned six decades, died on Tuesday of cardiac arrest, ET can confirm. He was 88.
According to his long-time manager, Sandy Joseph, Walsh died at Kerbs Memorial Hospital in St. Albans, Vermont.
The actor -- born on March 22, 1935 in Ogdensburg, New York, and raised in rural Swanton, Vermont -- is known for his work in theater, TV and film. He first made his onscreen debut in Alice’s Restaurant in 1969.
Of his other credits, Walsh portrayed Harrison Ford's Los Angeles Police Department boss in Ridley Scott's 1982 futuristic thriller, Blade Runner, and had a role in the Coen Brothers' 1984 movie, Blood Simple. He also played a corrupt local sheriff in the 1986 sci-fi horror film Critters, and was Dermot Mulroney's dad in the beloved 1997 rom-com My Best Friend's Wedding, starring Julia Roberts.
He also appeared in 1970's Little Big Man with Dustin Hoffman, 1971's They Might Be Giants with Joanne Woodward and George C. Scott, 1972's What’s Up, Doc? with Ryan O'Neal and Barbra Streisand, 1977's Slap Shot with Paul Newman, 1978's Straight Time with Hoffman and 1979's The Jerk with Steve Martin.
As for TV, Walsh was a series regular on Sneaky Pete and The Mind of the Married Man and also had guest roles on Frasier, Home Improvement, The X-Files, NYPD Blue, Army Wives, Damages, McMillan & Wife, The Twilight Zone, The Bob Newhart Show, The Rockford Files and The Waltons. His voice was also used by Ken Burns in his PBS docuseries, The Civil War and Baseball. Walsh's other voice work included The Iron Giant and Pound Puppies.
REST IN PEACE.
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