Bio
Harry Dean Stanton was an American actor, musician and singer with a career that spanned over six decades.
He was best known in latter years for his starring role as Roman Grant on the polygamy drama television series Big Love, from 2006-2010.
Born in Kentucky, he served in World War II before appearing in a University of Kentucky production of Pygmalion. After honing his craft at the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse, his first on-screen role was in Tomahawk Trail in 1957.
Following this, Harry had numerous smaller roles in television and film in the late 50's and early 60's, including Rawhide and Bonanza and films such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1960.
In 1967, Harry was cast in Cool Hand Luke. Some of the other classic films he appeared include Kelly's Heroes, Dillinger, The Godfather: Part II and Alien.
In Escape from New York in 1981, Harry played a cunning scientist for John Carpenter. Wim Wenders cast Harry in Paris, Texas in 1984 and Alex Cox used him to great effect opposite Emilio Estevez in the cult film Repo Man in the same year.
In 1986, John Hughes cast Harry against type as a suburban father in Pretty in Pink. David Lynch's Wild at Heart in 1990 gave Harry another memorable role, this time as an ill-fated private investigator. Lynch also cast Harry in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me in 1992 and The Straight Story in 1999.
Harry remained active in cinema with appearances in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas for Terry Gilliam, The Green Mile for Frank Darabont, The Pledge for Sean Penn and The Wendell Baker Story for Andrew and Luke Wilson.
In addition to his acting, Harry was also a musician in the mariachi-playing The Harry Dean Stanton Band.
Stanton died at age 91 on 15 September, 2017, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, of natural causes.