Chuck Aspergren obit

 Deer Hunter Actor Chuck Aspergren Has Died

He was not on the list.

Chuck Aspegren conquered a small-time of fame after appearing in the Oscar winning film The Deer Hunter (1978). In fact, he wasn't a trained actor but he was a steel worker from Gary, Indiana, who happened to be in the right place and the right time. When the likes of Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken began researching their roles as steel workers, they acquainted this charismatic guy, who worked as a general foreman at U.S. Steel, at a local bar and next thing you know, the film director Michael Cimino liked his presence and decided to cast him as one of the friends of the leading actors. Aspegren had the real charm and presence, very natural on the role as Axel and one of the most unforgettable characters of all time. Despite the film's success, Aspegren didn't follow a career in the movie business and little is known about him afterwards.

Chuck was a general foreman at the #2 Q-BOP shop at Gary Works for U.S.Steel. He was considered as an actor in the film after meeting a couple of the actors and sharing beer(s) with them at the local bar, Tobys, on Virginia Street.

Portrayed a steel worker in the film The Deer Hunter (1978) and was a real-life steel worker from Gary, Indiana.

Charles was accepted into the engineering program at Purdue University in August of 1958.

He had been living in a nursing home for seven months prior to his death.

Chuck was initially hired as a Technical Advisor for the Deer Hunter. After multiple interviews, the casting department liked him so much they offered him for the role of Axel.

According to his sister Karen, Chuck would call Robert De Niro "Bobby Baby" during filming.

Received his Bachelors degrees in Industrial Management and Millennium Engineering.

Chuck eventually passed away from pneumonia brought on from kidney failure.

His named is spelled Chuch Aspegren in his High School Yearbook.

Worked for Kaiser Steel in California after filming the Deer Hunter.

Graduated from Hobart High School ( Hobart, Indiana) in 1958.