Art Evans obit

Art Evans Dies: ‘Die Hard 2’ & ‘A Soldier’s Story’ Actor Was 82

 

He was not on the list.

Art Evans, the actor known for his roles in Die Hard 2 and A Soldier’s Story, has died. He was 82.

The actor’s rep tells Deadline he died on Saturday, Dec. 21 of diabetes, “a condition he courageously managed for many years.” No other details were immediately available.

“Art was not only an incredible actor but a devoted husband, friend, and source of light to everyone who knew him,” his wife Babe said in a statement. “His laughter, passion, and love of life will be deeply missed. While our hearts are heavy, we celebrate the legacy of joy and inspiration he leaves behind.

His talent reps LyNea Bell and Charleen McGuire remembered him as “a remarkable talent who touched many lives with his work. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”

Born March 27, 1942 in Los Angeles, Evans came up at Frank Silvera’s Theater of Being before landing his first credited onscreen role in a 1976 episode of Chico and the Man. He’s since gone on to amass more than 120 film and television credits.

Evans appeared in such films as Death Wish (1974), Leadbelly (1976), Fun with Dick and Jane (1977), The In-Laws (1979), The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979), Christine (1983), Fright Night (1985), Ruthless People (1986), Native Son (1986), School Daze (1988), Tales from the Hood (1995) and The Story of Us (1999).

On TV, Evans played mailroom clerk Morgan in the 1982-’88 ABC series adaptation of 9 to 5 (1980). His other television credits include episodes of M*A*S*H, The Fall Guy, Hill Street Blues, 227, In the Heat of the Night, Doogie Howser M.D., A Different World, Mad About You, Family Matters, Walker Texas Ranger, The X-Files, Monk, Everybody Hates Chris, The Sarah Silverman Program, Last Man Standing and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

Evans is survived by wife Babe and son Ogadae.

Actor

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022)

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder

3.1

TV Series

Charlie (voice)

2022–2023

2 episodes

 

Kevin Hart in Real Husbands of Hollywood (2022)

Real Husbands of Hollywood

6.4

TV Mini Series

Original Kevin Clone

2022

1 episode

 

A House Divided (2019)

A House Divided

5.8

TV Series

Adebayo

2019

3 episodes

 

Orphaned (2018)

Orphaned

Councilman Haley

2018

 

Lee Oskar in Ellen Bond Secret Agent (2018)

Ellen Bond Secret Agent

Short

Nelson

2018

 

Akeem Smith and Diandra Lyle in Beauty and the Baller (2017)

Beauty and the Baller

6.5

TV Series

Mr. Winchester

2017

3 episodes

 

Tatyana Ali and Bresha Webb in Love That Girl! (2010)

Love That Girl!

5.9

TV Series

Mr. Jiles

2014

1 episode

 

Lance Henriksen, John Savage, and Amy Hathaway in Alien Rising (2013)

Alien Rising

3.0

General Tabor

2013

 

iSteve (2013)

iSteve

5.2

Ol' Mose

2013

 

We Are Family

TV Movie

Professor Weatherspoon

2012

 

Tim Allen and Nancy Travis in Last Man Standing (2011)

Last Man Standing

7.5

TV Series

Mort

2011

1 episode

 

Forcin' the Blues (2011)

Forcin' the Blues

6.1

Short

2011

 

Pretend Time (2010)

Pretend Time

6.1

TV Series

Old Judge

Gerome

2010

2 episodes

 

Heather Bergdahl, Nicholas Downs, Jerome Elston Scott, and Micah Stuart in Anderson's Cross (2010)

Anderson's Cross

5.9

Grandpa Anderson

2010

 

Art Evans, Darius McCrary, Joseph C. Phillips, and Sam Sarpong in Church (2010)

Church

6.5

Pastor Jones

2010

 

House Under Siege (2010)

House Under Siege

3.9

Jack Miller

2010

 

Sarah Silverman in The Sarah Silverman Program. (2007)

The Sarah Silverman Program.

6.9

TV Series

Commander

2010

1 episode

 

Machete Joe (2010)

Machete Joe

2.6

Sammy

2010

 

Lincoln Heights (2006)

Lincoln Heights

7.7

TV Series

Pinky

2007–2009

2 episodes

 

Performance (2008)

Performance

Short

Sam

2008

 

Kathy Baker, Brian George, Bonnie Somerville, Sarah Shahi, and Zachary Levi in Shades of Ray (2008)

Shades of Ray

7.0

Tyler

2008

 

Clifton Powell, Sean Blakemore, and Dominic Daniel in Young Cesar (2007)

Young Cesar

7.2

2007

 

Everybody Hates Chris (2005)

Everybody Hates Chris

7.6

TV Series

Luther

2007

1 episode

 

Tony Shalhoub in Monk (2002)

Monk

8.1

TV Series

Rusty

2006

1 episode

 

Testify

6.9

Short

Pastor Biggs

2006

 

Gas (2004)

Gas

4.5

Will

2004

 

Never Die Alone (2004)

Never Die Alone

5.6

Mr. Waters

2004

 

John Amos, Red Grant, Corey Holcomb, and J.B. Smoove in The Watermelon Heist (2003)

The Watermelon Heist

4.1

Mailman

2003

 

Gary Oldman, James Marsden, Amy Smart, and Chris Cooper in Interstate 60 (2002)

Interstate 60

7.5

Otis

2002

 

Sonny Listening

Short

2002

 

Boys Klub (2001)

Boys Klub

3.8

Father Sal

2001

 

So Little Time (2001)

So Little Time

6.2

TV Series

Clayton Simms

2001

1 episode

 

Deadly Rhapsody (2001)

Deadly Rhapsody

5.0

James Tanner

2001

 

The Cheapest Movie Ever Made

6.9

2000

 

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in The X-Files (1993)

The X-Files

8.6

TV Series

Argyle Saperstein

2000

1 episode

 

Blair Underwood in City of Angels (2000)

City of Angels

6.7

TV Series

Mr. Charles Johnson

2000

1 episode

 

Michelle Pfeiffer and Bruce Willis in The Story of Us (1999)

The Story of Us

6.0

George

1999

 

The Breaks (1999)

The Breaks

6.1

1999

 

Holly Robinson Peete in After All (1999)

After All

7.2

TV Movie

1999

 

Always Outnumbered (1998)

Always Outnumbered

7.2

TV Movie

Markham Peale

1998

 

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997)

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

7.9

TV Series

Wally (segment "They Towed My Car") (as Arthur J. Evans)

1998

1 episode

 

Us Against Them (1997)

Us Against Them

6.6

Short

1997

 

Sugar Ray Leonard, Dawn Eason, Wolf Larson, Renee Tenison, Kenneth Tigar, and Steven Williams in L.A. Heat (1996)

L.A. Heat

6.8

TV Series

Mr. Kemp

1997

1 episode

 

Eddie Murphy in Metro (1997)

Metro

5.6

Lt. Sam Baffett

1997

 

Art Evans, Karla Green, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Iona Morris, and Irnisha Poindexter in A Hill of Our Own (1996)

A Hill of Our Own

Short

Sam

1996

 

Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)

Walker, Texas Ranger

5.7

TV Series

Walt Taylor

1996

1 episode

 

Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, and Jamie Foxx in The Great White Hype (1996)

The Great White Hype

5.5

Minister

1996

 

Dream On (1990)

Dream On

7.6

TV Series

Dr. Perry

1995

1 episode

 

Daniel Stern in Bushwhacked (1995)

Bushwhacked

5.6

Marty (uncredited)

1995

 

Tales from the Hood (1995)

Tales from the Hood

6.5

Eli

1995

 

Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie (1995)

Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie

4.5

Jackie The Butler

1995

 

Murder Was the Case: The Movie (1995)

Murder Was the Case: The Movie

6.0

Video

Detective (segment "Natural Born Killaz")

1995

 

Reginald VelJohnson, Jaimee Foxworth, Telma Hopkins, Rosetta LeNoire, Bryton James, Darius McCrary, Jo Marie Payton, Jaleel White, and Kellie Shanygne Williams in Family Matters (1989)

Family Matters

6.6

TV Series

Ben

1994

1 episode

 

Charles S. Dutton in Roc (1991)

Roc

7.4

TV Series

The Repairman

1994

1 episode

 

Stephen Baldwin, Patsy Kensit, and Jennifer Rubin in Bitter Harvest (1993)

Bitter Harvest

4.6

Earl Yates

1993

 

CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984)

CBS Schoolbreak Special

6.8

TV Series

Tucker Hawkins

1993

1 episode

 

Chris Rock in CB4 (1993)

CB4

6.2

Albert Sr. (as Arthur Evans)

1993

 

Bill Paxton, Ice Cube, Ice-T, and William Sadler in Trespass (1992)

Trespass

6.3

Bradlee

1992

 

The Finishing Touch (1992)

The Finishing Touch

5.3

Lieutenant Morman

1992

 

Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser in Mad About You (1992)

Mad About You

6.8

TV Series

Ike

Ike, Paul's Editor

1992

2 episodes

 

Moe's World

4.0

TV Movie

Card Player #1

1992

 

Anthony Edwards, Robert Carradine, Donald Gibb, Ted McGinley, Julia Montgomery, and Matt Salinger in Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

Revenge of the Nerds

4.2

TV Movie

Wallace Carter

1991

 

A Fond Little Memory

Short

Mr. Fred

1991

 

Jasmine Guy, Sinbad, Darryl M. Bell, Charnele Brown, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Lou Myers, Cree Summer, and Glynn Turman in A Different World (1987)

A Different World

7.0

TV Series

Mr. Johnson

1990–1991

2 episodes

 

Gary Cole and Wendy Kilbourne in Midnight Caller (1988)

Midnight Caller

7.8

TV Series

Garland Atkins

1991

1 episode

 

Neil Patrick Harris in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989)

Doogie Howser, M.D.

6.5

TV Series

Jimmy

1990

1 episode

 

Mom (1990)

Mom

5.2

Lt. Hendrix

1990

 

Bruce Willis in Die Hard 2 (1990)

Die Hard 2

7.1

Barnes

1990

 

Anthony Edwards and Forest Whitaker in Downtown (1990)

Downtown

5.7

Henry Coleman

1990

 

In the Heat of the Night (1988)

In the Heat of the Night

7.6

TV Series

L'il Calvin

1990

1 episode

 

Adventures in Babysitting (1989)

Adventures in Babysitting

5.7

TV Movie

Mr. Dukeman

1989

 

Denzel Washington and Robert Townsend in The Mighty Quinn (1989)

The Mighty Quinn

6.0

Jump Jones

1989

 

Marla Gibbs and Jackée Harry in 227 (1985)

227

6.7

TV Series

Eddie Williams

1988

1 episode

 

Nine to Five (1982)

Nine to Five

6.2

TV Series

Morgan

1986–1988

12 episodes

 

Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, and Kyme in School Daze (1988)

School Daze

6.1

Cedar Cloud

1988

 

White of the Eye (1987)

White of the Eye

6.1

Detective Charles Mendoza

1987

 

Victor Love in Native Son (1986)

Native Son

6.0

Doc

1986

 

Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, and Helen Slater in Ruthless People (1986)

Ruthless People

6.9

Lt. Bender

1986

 

Long Time Gone (1986)

Long Time Gone

6.5

TV Movie

Neighbor #1

1986

 

Richard Pryor in Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)

Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

6.3

Arturo

1986

 

Stevie Wonder: Go Home

Music Video

Detective

1985

 

Fright Night (1985)

Fright Night

7.0

Detective Lennox (as Art J. Evans)

1985

 

Handsome Harry's

TV Movie

Speedy Simms

1985

 

Seduced (1985)

Seduced

4.9

TV Movie

Cop #1 (uncredited)

1985

 

Into the Night (1985)

Into the Night

6.4

Jimmy

1985

 

James Spader, Kim Richards, and Paul Mones in Tuff Turf (1985)

Tuff Turf

6.0

Security Guard

1985

 

American Playhouse (1980)

American Playhouse

7.3

TV Series

Walton

1984

1 episode

 

A Soldier's Story (1984)

A Soldier's Story

7.2

Private Wilkie

1984

 

Maximum Security (1984)

Maximum Security

5.8

TV Series

Prisoner Papa Jack

1984

1 episode

 

Robert Clohessy, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz in Hill Street Blues (1981)

Hill Street Blues

8.2

TV Series

Floyd Joyner

William Teacher

Driver #2

1981–1984

3 episodes

 

Valerie Bertinelli in The Seduction of Gina (1984)

The Seduction of Gina

6.3

TV Movie

Delivery Man

1984

 

Christine (1983)

Christine

6.8

Auto Assembly Worker (uncredited)

1983

 

Lee Majors and Heather Thomas in The Fall Guy (1981)

The Fall Guy

7.1

TV Series

Guard (as Arthur Evans)

1983

1 episode

 

Anne Ramsey, Zane Buzby, Blackie Dammett, Barry Diamond, Art Evans, Miriam Flynn, Stephen Furst, Gerrit Graham, Fred McCarren, Marla Pennington, Randy Powell, Misty Rowe, Mews Small, Shelley Smith, Jim Staahl, and Jacklyn Zeman in Class Reunion (1982)

Class Reunion

4.6

Carl Clapton

1982

 

Sean Connery in Wrong Is Right (1982)

Wrong Is Right

5.6

Warehouse Guard

1982

 

Between Two Brothers (1982)

Between Two Brothers

5.6

TV Movie

Sanitation Worker

1982

 

World War III (1982)

World War III

6.6

TV Mini Series

Buford

1982

 

Sonny Shroyer and Samuel E. Wright in Enos (1980)

Enos

5.2

TV Series

1981

1 episode

 

First Family (1980)

First Family

4.3

Longo's Right Hand Man

1980

 

Scott Baio in The Boy Who Drank Too Much (1980)

The Boy Who Drank Too Much

6.4

TV Movie

Intern

1980

 

Skag (1980)

Skag

7.3

TV Series

1980

1 episode

 

Alan Alda, David Ogden Stiers, Gary Burghoff, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, and Loretta Swit in M*A*S*H (1972)

M*A*S*H

8.5

TV Series

Dolan

1979

1 episode

 

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979)

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

6.0

Baggage Master

1979

 

Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal in The Main Event (1979)

The Main Event

5.6

Fighter

1979

 

The In-Laws (1979)

The In-Laws

7.3

Treasury Truck Driver

1979

 

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

7.1

TV Movie

Principal

1979

 

The Cracker Factory (1979)

The Cracker Factory

6.4

TV Movie

Abdul

1979

 

Some Kind of Miracle (1979)

Some Kind of Miracle

6.5

TV Movie

Elvis

1979

 

Youngblood (1978)

Youngblood

5.8

Junkie

1978

 

King (1978)

King

7.9

TV Mini Series

A.D. King

1978

3 episodes

 

Christipher Joy, Jayne Kennedy, Tobar Mayo, and Roger E. Mosley in Big Time (1977)

Big Time

5.8

Buzz Murdock

1977

 

Roosevelt and Truman

TV Movie

Roosevelt

1977

 

Minstrel Man (1977)

Minstrel Man

8.5

TV Movie

Tambo

1977

 

Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)

Fun with Dick and Jane

6.4

Man At Bar

1977

 

Angie Dickinson in Police Woman (1974)

Police Woman

6.6

TV Series

Russ Singer

1976

1 episode

 

Leadbelly (1976)

Leadbelly

7.2

Blind Lemon Jefferson

1976

 

Jack Albertson and Freddie Prinze in Chico and the Man (1974)

Chico and the Man

6.8

TV Series

Bubba

1976

1 episode

 

The Orphan and the Dude

TV Movie

Curtis 'The Dude' Brown

1975

 

Amazing Grace (1974)

Amazing Grace

5.6

Well-Wisher at Train Station (uncredited)

1974

 

Charles Bronson in Death Wish (1974)

Death Wish

6.9

Police Officer at Precinct (uncredited)

1974

 

James Earl Jones, Tamu Blackwell, Diahann Carroll, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Eric Jones, and Socorro Stephens in Claudine (1974)

Claudine

7.3

Young Brother (uncredited)

1974

 

William Finley, Margot Kidder, and Jennifer Salt in Sisters (1972)

Sisters

6.9

African Room Waiter (uncredited)

1972