Richard Davalos obit

Richard Davalos, 'East of Eden' and 'Cool Hand Luke' Actor, Dies at 85

He was not on the list.

Richard Davalos, who was featured in such classic films as East of Eden (1955) and Cool Hand Luke (1967), has died. He was 85.

The actor died Tuesday at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, a hospital official confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Davalos is best known for his role in East of Eden as Aron Trask, the younger brother of James Dean’s character, Cal. Previously a movie usher, he was discovered by director Elia Kazan and soon cast in his first film role. During filming, he shared a Burbank apartment with Dean.

He also starred opposite Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke as convict Blind Dick. Davalos’ other films include All the Young Men (1960), The Cabinet of Caligari (1962), Brother, Cry for Me (1970), Kelly’s Heroes (1970), Hot Stuff (1979), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) and Ninja Cheerleaders (2008).

His TV credits include roles on Bonanza, The Americans, Perry Mason, Mannix, The Rockford Files, Hawaii Five-O, The Jeffersons, Hart to Hart and Murder, She Wrote.

Davalos also garnered some fame when he was featured on the cover art of The Smiths’ 1987 album Strangeways, Here We Come. Of the image, the actor told Mojo: “I’m in as much of a dilemma as to why Morrissey chose me for the cover as you, but I was terribly flattered.” Davalos’ image also appears on The Smiths’ U.S. releases of Best... I and ...Best II.

Davalos’ survivors include his two daughters, actress Elyssa and musician Dominique, and his granddaughter, actress Alexa.

Filmography

List of acting performances in film and television[6] Year                Title       Role       Notes

1955      East of Eden       Aron Trask          

The Sea Chase   Cadet Walter Stemme   

I Died a Thousand Times               Lon Preisser       

1960      All the Young Men           Private Casey    

1960      Bonanza               Sam Jackson / Johnny Logan        "The Trail Gang"

1961      The Americans Corporal Jeff Canfield     TV series (All Episodes)

1962      The Cabinet of Caligari   Mark Lindstrom               

1965      Rawhide               Will Butler           TV series (Season 7, Episode 24)

1966      Blue Light            Captain Hegner TV series (Season 1, Episode 6)

1967      Cool Hand Luke                 Blind Dick           

1968      The Rat Patrol    Captain Wansee               TV series (Season 2, Episode 51)

1969      Pit Stop                Rick Bowman    

1970      Kelly's Heroes    Private Gutowski             

Brother, Cry for Me         Michael Noble  

1971      Blood Legacy      Johnny Dean     

1977      Hawaii Five-O    Hawley "A Capitol Crime"

1979      Hot Stuff              Charles

1980      Battle Beyond the Stars Yago: Malmori  

1981      Death Hunt         Beeler  

1983      Something Wicked This Way Comes         Mr. Crosetti       

1990      Murder, She Wrote         D. L. Beaumont TV series (Season 7, Episode 5)

2003      Between the Sheets       Mr. Little             

2008      Ninja Cheerleaders          Don Lazzaro        (final film role)