Bernie Casey has passed away

American actor, poet, and professional football player Bernie Casey has died. He was 78.

His name may not be that familiar to you, but you probably recognize his face. Casey made his movie debut in the sequel Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969). He starred in films such as Boxcar Bertha, Brothers, Never Say Never Again, Revenge of the Nerds, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Spies Like Us, Cleopatra Jones, Another 48 Hrs., I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Under Siege and In The Mouth of Madness.

He also appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the Maquis leader Lieutenant Commander Cal Hudson, and in 1995 as a guest-star on both SeaQuest 2032 as Admiral VanAlden and Babylon 5 as Derek Cranston.

Bernard Casey was born on June 8, 1939, in Wyco, W.Va. He was raised in Columbus, Ohio, and attended Bowling Green on a football scholarship. Casey led the Falcons to the national “small college” championship in 1959 and was named to the Little All-American team. He also excelled in the high hurdles for the track team and competed in the 1960 U.S. Olympic trials.

Casey was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1961 as the 9th pick in the first round. He played for eight NFL seasons: six with the 49ers and two with the Los Angeles Rams.

Casey also wrote, directed, starred in and produced The Dinner (1997), that followed three black men who discuss slavery, black self-loathing, homophobia, etc. while sitting around the dinner table.

Casey also was a published poet as well as a painter whose work was exhibited in galleries around the world.