William Hickey was a versatile and prolific actor who appeared in over 100 films, television shows, and stage productions. He was best known for his Oscar-nominated performance as Don Corrado Prizzi in the 1985 film Prizzi’s Honor, as well as his roles as Uncle Lewis in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and the voice of Dr. Finkelstein in The Nightmare Before Christmas. But how did he die and what was his cause of death?
Early Life and Career
William Edward Hickey was born on September 19, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, to Edward and Nora Hickey, both of Irish descent. He had an older sister, Dorothy Finn. Hickey began acting on radio at the age of 10 and made his Broadway debut as a walk-on in the 1951 production of George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan, starring Uta Hagen. He performed often during the golden age of television, including appearances on Studio One and Philco Playhouse.
Hickey’s most important contribution to the arts, however, remains his teaching career at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, founded by Herbert Berghof. George Segal, Sandy Dennis, Barbra Streisand, and many other famous actors studied under him. He kept a flask behind the sink in the basement studio of HB where he taught. He stated it helped him cope with bad acting.
Hickey enjoyed a career in film, television, and theater. In addition to his work as an actor, he was a respected teacher of the craft. Notable for his unique, gravelly voice and somewhat offbeat appearance, Hickey, in his later years, was often cast in “cantankerous-but-clever old man” roles. His characters, who sometimes exuded an underlying air of the macabre, usually had the last laugh over their more sprightly co-stars.
Oscar Nomination and Later Roles
One of Hickey’s early roles was a suspect in the 1968 film The Boston Strangler. His most notable onscreen role was that of the gravelly voiced Don Corrado Prizzi in Prizzi’s Honor (1985), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Hickey portrayed Don Corrado as sharp-witted and cunning, despite his frail physical state, and shared key scenes with Anjelica Huston and Jack Nicholson.
Hickey also appeared in many other films, such as The Name of the Rose (1986), Sea of Love (1989), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Major Payne (1995), Mouse Hunt (1997), and Knocking on Death’s Door (1999). He also had guest roles on TV shows such as Tales from the Crypt, Wings, Frasier, and Homicide: Life on the Street.
William Hickey Cause of Death
Hickey died from emphysema and bronchitis on June 29, 1997, at the age of 69. His remains are interred in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn. He died during the filming of Uzo’s Better Than Ever, and his role was played by the producer in a pick-up shot depicting his character in the hospital. His final movie, Knocking on Death’s Door (in which he plays the town sheriff), was released nearly two years after his death.
Hickey left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a lasting influence on many actors who learned from him. He was praised by critics and peers for his distinctive voice and style. He once said: “I don’t mind being typecast as an old man; I’ve always looked old.” He also joked: “I’ve been dying for years; how come nobody notices?”
