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Frederic Forrest

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Frederic Forrest
Forrest in 1987
Born
Frederic Fenimore Forrest Jr.

(1936-12-23)December 23, 1936
DiedJune 23, 2023(2023-06-23) (aged 86)
OccupationActor
Years active1967–2006
Spouses
  • Nancy Whitaker
    (m. 1960; div. 1963)
  • (m. 1980; div. 1982)
  • Nina Dean
    (m. 1985, divorced)

Frederic Fenimore Forrest Jr. (December 23, 1936 – June 23, 2023) was an American actor. A figure of the New Hollywood movement,[1] Forrest was best known for his collaborations with director Francis Ford Coppola, playing featured roles in The Conversation (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), One from the Heart (1982), and Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988). He was nominated for an Academy Award[2], a Golden Globe Award, a New York Film Critics Circle Award, and received a National Society of Film Critics for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Huston Dyer in the musical drama The Rose (1979), an honor that was also shared with his performance as Jay "Chef" Hicks in Apocalypse Now.

Forrest came to public attention for his performance in When the Legends Die (1972), which earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer. His other film credits include The Missouri Breaks (1976), Hammett (1982), Valley Girl (1983), The Two Jakes (1990), Falling Down (1993), and All the King's Men (2006), along with the television series 21 Jump Street, Lonesome Dove, and Die Kinder.

Career

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During the 1960s, Frederic Forrest appeared in TV shows like "Dark Shadows" and "Gunsmoke."

In 1966, Forrest began acting on stage in an off-Broadway production of Viet Rock. His film debut was in When the Legends Die (1972).[3]

Forrest was known for his roles as Chef in Apocalypse Now,[2] the neo-Nazi surplus store owner in Falling Down, a borderline-psychotic family man in the fact-based Right to Kill?, and Dashiell Hammett in Hammett (1982)[2] and Citizen Cohn (1992).[2] He had a role as the Native American bandit Blue Duck in the 1989 miniseries Lonesome Dove. He was Academy Award-nominated in the Supporting Actor category for his role in The Rose.[4]

Forrest also appeared in Valley Girl,[2] The Two Jakes,[2] The Stone Boy, The Missouri Breaks, The Deliberate Stranger (TV), Promise Him Anything (TV), and horror maestro Dario Argento's first American film, Trauma.

On television, he played Captain Richard Jenko on the first season of the Fox Television series 21 Jump Street in 1987. Forrest was subsequently replaced by actor Steven Williams, who played Captain Adam Fuller for the remainder of the series. In 1990 he appeared as private investigator Lomax in the BBC miniseries Die Kinder. He played Sgt. McSpadden in the U.S. Civil War-themed movie Andersonville and real-life U.S. Army General Earle Wheeler in 2002's Path to War, the final film of director John Frankenheimer.

Personal life

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Forrest in 1979

Forrest was born on December 23, 1936, in Waxahachie, Texas, the son of Virginia Allee (née McSpadden) and Frederic Fenimore Forrest, a furniture store owner[2][5] whose greenhouses provided plants for sale in retail stores.[3] He served in the United States Army and later attended Texas Christian University, graduating in 1960 with a bachelor's degree in fine arts.[6] In 1993, he was a recipient of TCU's Distinguished Alumni Award.[7]

Forrest was married three times: to his college girlfriend Nancy Whitaker from 1960 to 1963, to actress Marilu Henner from 1980 to 1983, and lastly to model Nina Dean in 1985. He did not have any children.[6][8]

Forrest died at his home in Santa Monica, California, on June 23, 2023, at the age of 86.[9][10]

Filmography

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List of film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1966 Viet Rock
1968 The Filthy Five Johnny Longo (credited as 'Matt Garth')
1969 Futz! Sugford
1972 When the Legends Die Tom Black Bull Nominated – Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor
1973 The Don Is Dead Tony Fargo
1974 The Conversation Mark
The Gravy Train Rut
1975 Permission to Kill Scott Allison
1976 The Missouri Breaks Cary
1978 It Lives Again Eugene Scott
1979 Apocalypse Now Jay "Chef" Hicks National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (also for The Rose)
The Rose Huston Dyer National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (also for Apocalypse Now)
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
1982 One From the Heart Hank
Hammett Hammett
1983 Valley Girl Steve Richman
1984 The Stone Boy Andy Jansen
1985 Return Brian Stoving
1986 Where are the Children? Courtney Parrish
1987 Stacking Buster McGuire
1988 Tucker: The Man and His Dream Eddie
1989 Valentino Returns Sonny Gibbs
Cat Chaser Nolen Tyner
Music Box Jack Burke
1990 The Two Jakes Chuck Newty
1992 Twin Sisters Delvaux
The Habitation of Dragons Leonard Tolliver
Rain Without Thunder Warden
Double Obsession Paul Harkness Filmed in Boulder. Distributed by Tri-Star. Directed by Eduardo Montes-Bradley
1993 Falling Down Nick, Nazi Surplus Store Owner
Trauma Dr. Judd
Precious Victims Sheriff Frank Yocom
Hidden Fears Mike
1994 Chasers Duane
Lassie Sam Garland
1995 One Night Stand Michael Joslyn
1997 Crash Dive Adm. Pendleton
The Brave Lou Sr.
The End of Violence Ranger MacDermot
One of Our Own Maj. Ron Bridges
1998 Boogie Boy Edsel Dundee
Point Blank Mac Bradford
Whatever Mr. Chaminski
Black Thunder Admiral Pendleton
The First 9½ Weeks David Millman Direct-to-video film
Implicated Det. Luddy
1999 Sweetwater Alex (present day)
2000 Shadow Hours Sean
A Piece of Eden Paulo Tredici
The Spreading Ground Det. Mike McGivern
Militia William Fain
2002 The House Next Door Vernon Crank
2003 The Quality of Light David
2006 All the King's Men Donald Stark (final film role)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1967 Dark Shadows Blue Whale customer 1 episode
1974 Larry Larry Herman TV movie
1978 Ruby and Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald
1979 $weepstake$ 1 episode
Mrs. Columbo Martin Episode: "Word Games"
Survival of Dana Mr. Davies TV movie, uncredited
1983 Who Will Love My Children? Ivan Fray TV movie
Saigon: Year of the Cat Bob Chesneau
1985 Quo Vadis? Petronius Miniseries
Right to Kill? Richard Jahnke, Sr. TV movie
1986 The Deliberate Stranger Det. Bob Keppel Miniseries
1987 21 Jump Street Captain Richard Jenko 6 episodes
1988 Little Girl Lost Tim Brady TV movie
Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun Raoul Schumacher
Gotham Father George
1989 Lonesome Dove Blue Duck 3 episodes
1990 Die Kinder Lomax 6 episodes
1992 The Young Riders Tommy Urbach 2 episodes
Citizen Cohn Dashiell Hammett TV movie
1994 Against the Wall Weisbad
1996 Andersonville Sgt. McSpadden
1998 Murphy Brown Kenny Episode: "A Man and a Woman"
2002 Path to War Earle Wheeler TV movie

References

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  1. ^ "Frederic Forrest: An American Cinematheque Retrospective". American Cinematheque. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Gilbey, Ryan (June 28, 2023). "Frederic Forrest obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Harmetz, Aljean (November 29, 1979). "A 'Rose' for Frederic Forrest: 'I Don't Expect Much' 'A Pinteresque World' A Devastating Review". The New York Times. p. C 17. ProQuest 123902703. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "Oscar nominees announced for 52nd annual ceremony". The Victoria Advocate. February 24, 1980. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "Forrest, Frederic 1936–". encyclopedia.com. Cengage.
  6. ^ a b Smith, Harrison. "Frederic Forrest, character actor known for Coppola films, dies at 86". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  7. ^ "Distinguished Alumni Award". TCU.edu.
  8. ^ Haring, Bruce (June 24, 2023). "Frederic Forrest Dies: Oscar-Nominated Actor In 'Apocalypse Now' And 'The Rose' Was 86". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Frederic Forrest, Standout Supporting Player in 'Apocalypse Now' and 'The Rose,' Dies at 86
  10. ^ "Bette Midler Mourns 'The Rose' Co-Star Frederic Forrest: 'Lucky to Have Him'". ExtraTV. June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
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