American actor Ned Beatty has died at the age of 83. In his long career he grew into a versatile supporting actor, from his debut as a rape victim in Deliverance or a cynical TV boss in Network to a villain in the Superman movies and a vengeful teddy bear in Toy Story 3.
Beatty impressed moviegoers in 1972 with a shocking scene in Deliverance, in which, as a timid townsman in the American hinterland, he is the victim of a brutal rape. The moment when the villagers force him to scream like a piglet, is the prelude to Burt Reynolds’ violent revenge mission.
Four years later, Beatty received an Oscar nomination for Network, in which he gives a thundering sermon to protagonist Peter Finch about the commercialization of the media. Finch won the gold statuette for his role, but Beatty had to beat Jason Robards All the President’s Men pass, a film in which Beatty also starred.
To surprise
With this foundation, Beatty established himself as a gifted character actor, who didn’t turn his nose up at smaller but memorable roles. “A movie star should never really mislead the public, but that is precisely my greatest pleasure. As a star you have to be careful not to alienate your fans, but I like to surprise the audience, do something unexpected.”
Beatty landed roles in more than seventy films: he was twice the wimpy henchman of villain Lex Luthor in a Superman movie, acted with Sean Connery in the crime thriller Just Cause and with Eddie Murphy in Life and popped up in Charlie Wilson’s War with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.
In addition, he appeared in many guest roles on TV, such as in M*A*S*H*, Murder, She Wrote on Roseanne, where he had a recurring role as Dan’s father. “I often have people say: I know you, I know you! But where have I seen you?”
Teddy bear
Beatty retired in 2013. One of his last roles was that of bear Lotso, the villain from the third Toy Story-film.
Beatty’s manager has revealed that the actor died in his sleep at home in Los Angeles yesterday, surrounded by family and friends.
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