John Heard has passed away

John Heard has died at the age of 71.

He was found dead on Friday in his hotel room in Palo Alto, California. The Santa Clara medical examiner’s office confirmed the death. The cause is unknown. He had been staying at the hotel after minor back surgery this week.

Many of you will know him best from the Home Alone films, but he was one of those actors who cropped up all over the place. You may not have known his name, but you always knew he was going to give a great performance. He had lead roles in several films, including Chilly Scenes of Winter, Heart Beat, Cutter’s Way, Cat People, and C.H.U.D., as well as supporting roles in After Hours, Big, Beaches, Awakenings, Rambling Rose, The Pelican Brief, My Fellow Americans, Snake Eyes, and Animal Factory. He played Paul in Big (1988). He co-starred with Bette Midler in Beaches (1988), and starred in Deceived (1991), with Goldie Hawn, playing Jack Saunders, and starred in Gladiator (1992), with Cuba Gooding, Jr.

He was nominated for an Emmy Award for guest starring in the television series The Sopranos.