J T Walsh was one of the most prolific and versatile character actors in Hollywood, who appeared in over 50 films and several TV shows in his career. He was known for playing complex and often villainous roles, such as the corrupt lieutenant colonel in A Few Good Men, the sinister truck driver in Breakdown, and the mental patient in Sling Blade. He also worked with some of the most acclaimed directors and actors in the industry, such as Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, and Billy Bob Thornton. But how did J T Walsh die, and what was his legacy?
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J T Walsh’s Early Life and Career
J T Walsh was born James Thomas Patrick Walsh on September 28, 1943, in San Francisco, California. He had three siblings: Christopher, Patricia, and Mary. His father was a US Air Force officer, and the family lived in West Germany for 14 years, where Walsh attended a Jesuit school and learned to speak fluent German. He also studied at the University of Tübingen for a year before his father died of a brain tumor in 1962.
Walsh returned to the US and graduated from the University of Rhode Island, where he majored in sociology and participated in many theater productions. He was also active in anti-war demonstrations during the Vietnam War. After college, he worked as a barman, an encyclopedia salesman, a junior high school teacher, a gymnasium equipment salesman, and a reporter. He did not pursue acting as a full-time career until he was 31 years old.
Walsh was discovered by a theater director in 1974 and began working in off-Broadway shows. He met playwright David Mamet in 1976 and won a role in the first performance of American Buffalo. His big break came when he was cast in another Mamet play, Glengarry Glen Ross, on Broadway in 1984. The role brought him to the attention of Hollywood casting agents, and he moved to Los Angeles four years later.
J T Walsh’s Film and TV Roles
Walsh made his film debut in 1983, in a minor role in Eddie Macon’s Run. He soon established himself as a reliable and versatile character actor, who could play a range of roles, from comedy to drama, from heroes to villains. He often portrayed authority figures, such as military officers, police officers, politicians, and businessmen, who were either corrupt, incompetent, or conflicted. He also played ordinary people who were caught up in extraordinary situations, such as hostages, victims, or witnesses.
Some of his most memorable film roles include:
Sergeant Major Dickerson, the ruthless and ambitious officer who antagonizes Robin Williams in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987).
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Markinson, the guilt-ridden and suicidal officer who tries to expose the truth in A Few Good Men (1992).
Frank Fitzsimmons, the loyal and pragmatic union leader who clashes with Jack Nicholson in Hoffa (1992).
John Ehrlichman, the loyal and pragmatic aide to Anthony Hopkins in Nixon (1995).
Charles Bushman, the creepy and violent mental patient who torments Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996).
Warren “Red” Barr, the cunning and sadistic truck driver who kidnaps Kathleen Quinlan in Breakdown (1997).
Big Bob, the conservative and authoritarian mayor of Pleasantville, who opposes the changes brought by Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon in Pleasantville (1998).
Walsh also appeared in several TV shows, such as The X-Files, Dark Skies, The Outer Limits, and NYPD Blue. He was nominated for a CableACE Award for his role as a corrupt senator in The Second Civil War (1997).
J T Walsh’s Death and Legacy
Walsh died of a heart attack on February 27, 1998, at the age of 54. He was on vacation at a resort hotel in La Mesa, California, when he fell ill and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was survived by his son, John West, his brother, Christopher, and his sisters, Patricia and Mary.
Walsh’s death was a shock to the film industry and his fans, who admired his talent and professionalism. He was praised by his colleagues and peers, such as Jack Nicholson, who called him “a great actor and a great guy”, and Billy Bob Thornton, who dedicated his Oscar for Sling Blade to him. He was also honored by the Screen Actors Guild, which gave him a posthumous award for his performance in Pleasantville.
Walsh left behind a legacy of memorable and diverse characters, who enriched the films and shows he appeared in. He was regarded as one of the best character actors of his generation, who could bring depth, nuance, and realism to any role. He was also respected as a generous and humble person, who was always prepared and professional on set. He once said, “I like to play bad guys, since good guys are always beaten up several times during the movie. Bad guys are usually the ones who do the beating up. But I don’t see these people as bad guys. I just see them as people who are wrong.”
J T Walsh cause of death was a tragic loss for the film industry and his fans, who will always remember him as a brilliant and versatile actor. He was a true character actor, who made every character his own.
