Art LaFleur obit

Art LaFleur, Actor in ‘The Sandlot’ and ‘Field of Dreams,’ Dies at 78

He played the Tooth Fairy in the second and third 'Santa Clause' films and had roles in TV shows from 'Malcolm in the Middle' to 'The Mentalist.'

 

He was not on the list.

Art LaFleur, a veteran character actor known for The Sandlot and Field of Dreams, died on Nov. 17. He was 78.

LaFleur’s wife of 43 years, Shelley, confirmed the actor’s death on Facebook, writing that he died after a 10-year battle with “A-typical Parkinson’s.”

LaFleur was born in Gary, Indiana. He played football in 1962 as a redshirt at the University of Kentucky under Coach Charlie Bradshaw as chronicled in a 2007 book, The Thin Thirty. He was a sportscaster on ESPN and on CBS.

The actor was born in Indiana and began his career in the 1978 TV movie Rescue From Gilligan’s Island, followed by an episode of Charlie’s Angels. He then appeared in numerous shows from M.A.S.H. and From Here to Eternity to Doogie Howser M.D. and The Incredible Hulk.

LaFleur had roles in a number of TV movies including Two of a Kind, Sometimes I Wonder and The Invisible Woman. On the big screen, LaFleur’s career included performances in Rampage, The Wrong Guys, Keaton’s Cop, The Blob and The Death Warrant.

In 2011, LaFleur was recognized by the Action on Film International Film Festival for his role among the ensemble cast of Dahmer vs. Gacy, a film from director Ford Austin.

“He brought laughter to so many people as Babe Ruth in the Sandlot, The Tooth Fairy in The Santa Clause 2 and 3, and Chick Gandil in Field of Dreams to name just a few,” wrote Shelley. She called him a “generous and selfless man which carried over to his acting but more importantly it was who he was for his family and friends.”

Later television roles included Cold Case, The Mentalist, Malcolm in the Middle, The Bernie Mac Show and Key and Peele.

“Art was larger than life and meant the world to us,” concluded Shelley.

Along with his wife, LaFleur is survived by children Joe and Molly, daughter-in-law Glenda and granddaughter, Frankie.

Actor (169 credits)

 2017 Dive (TV Movie)

Dad

 2016 The Last Treasure Hunt

Robert Sinclair (voice)

 2015 Key and Peele (TV Series)

Father

- The Job Interview (2015) ... Father

 2013 A Snow Globe Christmas (TV Movie)

Mr. Barns

 2012-2013 Have You Met Miss Jones? (TV Series)

Limo Lou

- Who's Troy Donahue? (2013) ... Limo Lou

- Pilot (2012) ... Limo Lou

 2012 Have You Met Miss Jones? (Short)

Limo Lou

 2012 Shoot to Kill (Short)

John

 2012 Ben and Kate (TV Series)

Mr. Carlson

- Guitar Face (2012) ... Mr. Carlson

 2012 House Hunting

Don Thomson

 2011 End of the Innocents (Short)

Detective Frank Michaels

 2011 The Playboy Club (TV Series)

Mayor Daley

- The Scarlet Bunny (2011) ... Mayor Daley

 2011 CPA Holes (TV Series)

Artie

- Episode #3.0 (2011) ... Artie

- Episode #2.0 (2011) ... Artie

- Episode #1.0 (2011) ... Artie

 2010 Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen

Art

 2010 The Rig

Ken Fleming

 2010 Illegal

Agent Wallace

 2010 Dahmer vs. Gacy

Dr. Hess

 2009 Act Like Men (Short)

Big Man

 2009 Guitar Lessons (Short)

John

 2009 Refrigerator (Short)

Pop

 2009 The Mentalist (TV Series)

Det. Louis Earlen

- Red Bulls (2009) ... Det. Louis Earlen

 2009 War Wolves (TV Movie)

Leo

 2009 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr. (TV Movie)

Russell Hollander (as Art Lafleur)

 2008 Cold Case (TV Series)

Bert Walters '08

- Wings (2008) ... Bert Walters '08

 2008 Speed Racer

Fuji Announcer (as Art La Fleur)

 2008 Bad Guys

Shep

 2008 Las Vegas (TV Series)

Club Owner

- Adventures in the Skin Trade (2008) ... Club Owner

 2007 Shiloh Falls

Sheriff

 2007 The Bill Engvall Show (TV Series)

Garage Owner

- Go Ahead, See If I Karaoke (2007) ... Garage Owner

 2007 The Fatal Agreement (Video short)

Detective Drake

 2006 The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Tooth Fairy

 2006 A New Finish (Short)

Barney

 2006 The Powder Puff Principle (Short)

Coach

 2006 The Bernie Mac Show (TV Series)

Stan

- Fantasy Football (2006) ... Stan

 2005 Night Stalker (TV Series)

Detective Mitchell

- The Five People You Meet in Hell (2005) ... Detective Mitchell (as Art La Fleur)

 2005 McBride: Tune in for Murder (TV Movie)

Armen

 2005 Hostage

Bill Jorgenson

 2005 House (TV Series)

Warner Fitch

- Sports Medicine (2005) ... Warner Fitch

 2005 Malcolm in the Middle (TV Series)

Fred

- Malcolm's Car (2005) ... Fred

 2004 Breaking the Fifth

Abraham Polinskiky

 2004 A Cinderella Story

Coach (as Art La Fleur)

 2004 Cut and Run (Short)

T. Ray

 2004 Still Standing (TV Series)

Coach Walters

- Still Narcing (2004) ... Coach Walters

 2004 Call Waiting

Director

 2003 True Confessions of the Legendary Figures (Video short)

Tooth Fairy (uncredited)

 2003 The Handler (TV Series)

Richard

- It's Only Rock & Roll (2003) ... Richard (as Art La Fleur)

 2003 Nines (Short)

Rock

 2001-2002 The Practice (TV Series)

Detective William Bolling / Captain William Bolling

- Silent Partners (2002) ... Detective William Bolling

- Eat and Run (2002) ... Detective William Bolling

- Public Servants (2001) ... Captain William Bolling

 2002 The Santa Clause 2

Tooth Fairy (as Art Lafleur)

 2002 Ecstatic (Video short) (as Art Lafleur)

 2002 The Division (TV Series)

Jerry Pulaski

- Unfamiliar Territory (2002) ... Jerry Pulaski

 2001 Beethoven's 4th (Video)

Sgt. Rutledge

 2001 Nikki (TV Series)

Chuck Carmichael

- I'll Kick Your Ass (2001) ... Chuck Carmichael

 2000 Angel (TV Series)

T'ish Magev

- Guise Will Be Guise (2000) ... T'ish Magev

 2000 The Replacements

Banes

 2000 JAG (TV Series)

Vice Admiral Richard Kern

- Cabin Pressure (2000) ... Vice Admiral Richard Kern

 1999 Norm (TV Series)

Mac

- Norm vs. the Boxer (1999) ... Mac

 1998-1999 Hyperion Bay (TV Series)

Town Supervisor Bart Corver

- With Friends Like These... (1999) ... Town Supervisor Bart Corver

- Valentine's Bay (1999) ... Town Supervisor Bart Corver

- The Rope (1998) ... Town Supervisor Bart Corver

- Pilot (1998) ... Town Supervisor Bart Corver

 1999 Boy Meets World (TV Series)

Bill

- Road Trip (1999) ... Bill

 1999 Tycus (Video)

Shyler

 1999 Last Chance

Jimmy

 1998 The Tony Danza Show (TV Series)

Mr. Paxton

- Vision Quest (1998) ... Mr. Paxton

 1998 Best of the Best 4: Without Warning (Video)

Big Joolie (as Art La Fluer)

 1998 ER (TV Series)

Miles Kearney

- Shades of Gray (1998) ... Miles Kearney

 1998 The Magnificent Seven (TV Series)

Warden

- Inmate 78 (1998) ... Warden

 1998 The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series)

Gus Rogenheimer

- The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon (1998) ... Gus Rogenheimer

 1997 Baywatch (TV Series)

Tully

- Homecoming (1997) (1997) ... Tully

 1997 Pacific Blue (TV Series)

Arthur Lofton

- Only in America (1997) ... Arthur Lofton

 1997 Pensacola: Wings of Gold (TV Series)

General Bednarik

- Yesterday, Upon the Stair...: Part 1 (1997) ... General Bednarik

 1997 Hijacking Hollywood

Eddie (as Art La Fleur)

 1997 Promised Land (TV Series)

Lester Wallace

- Intolerance (1997) ... Lester Wallace

 1997 Running Time

Warden

 1997 Lewis & Clark & George

Fred

 1996 High Tide (TV Series)

- University Blues: Part 2 (1996)

- University Blues: Part 1 (1996)

 1996 First Kid

Morton

 1996 The John Larroquette Show (TV Series)

Al

- A Night to Remember (1996) ... Al

 1995 A.J.'s Time Travelers (TV Series)

Babe Ruth

- Babe Ruth (1995) ... Babe Ruth

 1995 Strange Luck (TV Series)

- Soul Survivor (1995) ... (as Art La Fleur)

 1995 Man of the House

Red Sweeney

 1995 Love & War (TV Series)

Joey G.

- Mob Story (1995) ... Joey G. (as Art La Fleur)

 1994 Coach (TV Series)

Guard

- Jailbirds (1994) ... Guard

 1994 In the Army Now

1st Sgt. Brandon T. Williams

 1994 Maverick

Poker Player (as Art La Fleur)

 1992-1993 Matlock (TV Series)

Police Det. Campbell Buchard / Buck Rayhall

- The Capital Offense (1993) ... Police Det. Campbell Buchard

- The Outcast (1992) ... Buck Rayhall (as Art La Fleur)

 1993 Silent Rain (Short)

Coach Weber

 1993 The Trouble with Larry (TV Series)

Mr. Crandall

- My Science Fair Lady (1993) ... Mr. Crandall

 1993 Johnny Bago (TV Series)

Captain Lemsky

- Hail the Conquering Marrow (1993) ... Captain Lemsky

- Johnny Bago Free at Last (1993) ... Captain Lemsky

 1993 Route 66 (TV Series)

Robert

- Pilot (1993) ... Robert

 1993 The Sandlot

The Babe (as Art La Fleur)

 1993 Jack the Bear

Mr. Festinger

 1993 Space Rangers (TV Series)

Decker henchman

- Fort Hope (1993) ... Decker henchman (as Art La Fleur)

 1992 Forever Young

Alice's Father

 1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. (TV Series)

David Crandall

- Doogie Got a Gun (1992) ... David Crandall (as Art La Fleur)

 1992 Mr. Baseball

Skip

 1992 Renegade (TV Series)

Lt. Barrell

- Renegade (1992) ... Lt. Barrell (as Art La Fleur)

 1992 Tales from the Crypt (TV Series)

Phil

- What's Cookin' (1992) ... Phil

 1992 The Young Riders (TV Series)

Mikham

- Shadowmen (1992) ... Mikham

 1992 Live! From Death Row (TV Movie)

Lockart

 1992 Billy (TV Series)

Siegfried

- Gimme Some Credit (1992) ... Siegfried

 1991 Home Improvement (TV Series)

Jim

- Nothing More Than Feelings (1991) ... Jim (as Art La Fleur)

 1991 Drexell's Class (TV Series)

Mike

- Air Drexell (1991) ... Mike

 1991 Acting Sheriff (TV Movie)

Capt. Van Patten

 1991 Trancers II

Old McNulty (as Art La Fleur)

 1991 Oscar

Officer Quinn

 1991 The Fanelli Boys (TV Series)

- Rope a Dope (1991)

 1990 Wiseguy (TV Series)

Gaines

- Point of No Return (1990) ... Gaines (as Art La Fleur)

 1990 ABC Afterschool Specials (TV Series)

Mr. Stone

- Testing Dirty (1990) ... Mr. Stone

- The Perfect Date (1990)

 1990 Death Warrant

Sergeant DeGraf

 1990 Air America

Jack Neely (as Art La Fleur)

 1990 Northern Exposure (TV Series)

Walter

- Pilot (1990) ... Walter

 1990 Keaton's Cop

Detective Ed Hayes

 1989 Life Goes On (TV Series)

Coach Fedemeyer

- Pilot (1989) ... Coach Fedemeyer

 1989 Not Necessarily the News (TV Series)

- Episode #7.6 (1989)

 1989 Doctor Doctor (TV Series)

Art

- The Palumbo Affair (1989) ... Art (as Art La Fleur)

 1989 Field of Dreams

Chick Gandil (1B)

 1989 Thirtysomething (TV Series)

Al Pressman

- First Day/Last Day (1989) ... Al Pressman

 1988 Pulse Pounders

McNulty (Trancers sequence)

 1988 Trancers: City of Lost Angels (Short)

McNulty

 1988 The Blob

Pharmacist / Mr. Penny

 1988 The Wrong Guys

Woody Winslow

 1987 The Three Kings (TV Movie)

Police Officer

 1987 Private Eye (TV Series)

Detective Sfakis

- Nobody Dies in Chinatown (1987) ... Detective Sfakis (as Art La Fleur)

 1987 Rampage

Mel Sanderson

 1987 Cameo by Night (TV Movie)

Pinky (as Art Lafleur)

 1987 Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series)

Rodney Hobart

- One Flew East (1987) ... Rodney Hobart (as Art La Fleur)

 1987 Gimme a Break! (TV Series)

Mr. Hamilton

- Joey, the Gigolo (1987) ... Mr. Hamilton

 1986 The Penalty Phase (TV Movie)

Pete Pavlovich

 1986 Hill Street Blues (TV Series)

Federal Marshal Hudson

- Say Uncle (1986) ... Federal Marshal Hudson (as Art La Fleur)

 1986 The Magical World of Disney (TV Series)

Sergeant Westwood

- Little Spies (1986) ... Sergeant Westwood

 1986 Say Yes

Ernest

 1986 Cobra

Captain Sears (as Art La Fleur)

 1986 A Winner Never Quits (TV Movie)

John Stewart

 1986 The Fifth Missile (TV Movie)

'Animal' Meslinsky

 1985 Prisoner (TV Series)

Punk

- Episode #7.67 (1985) ... Punk (as Arthur Le Fleur)

 1985 Zone Troopers

Mittens

 1985 The Man with One Red Shoe

CIA Agent

 1984 City Heat

Bruiser

 1984 Trancers

McNulty (as Art La Fleur)

 1984 The A-Team (TV Series)

Truck Rental Company Manager

- Timber! (1984) ... Truck Rental Company Manager

 1984 Benson (TV Series)

Gus Marathon

- The Scandal (1984) ... Gus Marathon (as Art La Fleur)

 1984 Boys in Blue (TV Movie)

Stanley Singleton

 1984 Sins of the Past (TV Movie)

 1984 Unfaithfully Yours

Desk Sergeant (as Art La Fleur)

 1983 Big Ball (Short)

Farley

 1983 Webster (TV Series)

Peanut Butter

- Teddy Bear Scare (1983) ... Peanut Butter (as Art La Fleur)

- Another Ballgame (1983) ... Peanut Butter

 1983 Bay City Blues (TV Series)

Umpire 1 / Umpire DeJacomo

- Zircons Are Forever (1983) ... Umpire 1

- Pilot (1983) ... Umpire DeJacomo

 1983 Emergency Room (TV Movie)

Colon

 1983 WarGames

Guard

 1983 Cracking Up

Gas Attendant (as Art Le Fleur)

 1983 Wizards and Warriors (TV Series)

Michael

- The Rescue (1983) ... Michael (as Art La Fleur)

 1983 Who Will Love My Children? (TV Movie)

Krause (as Art La Fleur)

 1983 The Invisible Woman (TV Movie)

Phil

 1983 Sometimes I Wonder (TV Movie)

Joe

 1982 Two of a Kind (TV Movie)

Cook

 1982 Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again

Clock Repairman (as Art La Fleur)

 1982 In the Custody of Strangers (TV Movie)

Clifford (as Art La Fleur)

 1982 I Ought to Be in Pictures

Baseball Fan

 1982 Bret Maverick (TV Series)

Cockeye Pete Shonsey

- The Not So Magnificent Six (1982) ... Cockeye Pete Shonsey

 1982 Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal (TV Movie)

Homeowner

 1982 Cannery Row

Doorman

 1981 Best of the West (TV Series)

Dooley Wainright

- Mail Order Bride (1981) ... Dooley Wainright (as Art La Fleur)

 1981 The Incredible Hulk (TV Series)

Hugh

- Danny (1981) ... Hugh (as Art La Fleur)

 1980 Soap (TV Series)

Bartender

- Episode #4.7 (1980) ... Bartender (as Art Fleur)

 1980 Any Which Way You Can

Baggage Man #2

 1980 M*A*S*H (TV Series)

The M.P.

- Father's Day (1980) ... The M.P. (as Art La Fleur)

 1980 The Hollywood Knights

Thomas

 1979 Lou Grant (TV Series)

Ben

- Slammer (1979) ... Ben

 1979 From Here to Eternity (TV Mini Series)

- Part III (1979)

- Part II (1979)

- Part I (1979)

 1979 Charlie's Angels (TV Series)

Carl

- Angel in a Box (1979) ... Carl (as Art La Fleur)

 1978 Rescue from Gilligan's Island (TV Movie)

Ivan