Actor Billy Drago arrives at the premiere of "The Hills Have Eyes" at the Arclight Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on March 9, 2006. Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Billy Drago, a character actor best-known for playing Hollywood villains, has died.
Drago’s publicity firm was cited by Deadline as saying he passed away on Monday, June 24.
Known for various roles including Al Capone’s deadly henchman in Brian De Palma’s “The Untouchables,” Drago died in Los Angeles at age 73, a representative told The Hollywood Reporter.
Actor Billy Drago arrives for the screening of the movie Revamped in Hollywood, Cali., on March 29, 2007. Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images
Funeral services are now pending for the iconic actor who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, is survived by his sister Patty, brother Steve, sons Darren Burrows and Derrick Burrows, and several grandchildren.
Actor Bruce Campbell paid tribute to Drago on Twitter.
“He was sinister and understated on screen, sweet and humble off screen. Safe travels, fellow thespian. Well played!”
Film director Timo Tjahjanto wrote: “RIP Billy Drago. What a name, what a face and what a screen presence.”
A former journalist, Drago transitioned into acting in the late 1970s. He appeared in such films as “Cutter’s Way,” “Windwalker,” and “No Other Love.”
Drago also had roles in “Walker Texas Ranger” and “The X-Files.”
‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ Star Beth Chapman Dies at 51
A celebrity death that made headlines recently was that of Beth Chapman, the reality TV star of “Dog the Bounty Hunter.”
Beth Chapman died at age 51 after battling cancer, according to Duane “Dog” Chapman.
“It’s 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain. Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side,” he wrote on Twitter.
It came after TMZ and other news outlets reported that she was in grave condition.
Beth Chapman had battled throat cancer since her initial diagnosis in 2017.
In May, she announced she wasn’t opting to have chemotherapy.
“Chemotherapy is not my bag, people. Sorry, that’s not for me,” she said to Popculture.com in May. “So for me, this is the ultimate test of faith. This is my ultimate lesson. And it will either be taught to me or to you. And I am fine with taking the hit for everyone else. Because I think I know another guy who did the same thing.”
Previously, the pair had spoken about faith.
Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman and Beth Chapman attend the Vettys Presidential Inaugural Ball at Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington on Jan. 20, 2017. Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images
“Faith is probably the number one thing in our lives, no matter what we’re faced with. … Through this cancer episode, we had to drum up as much faith as we could. And the Bible talks about having faith as small as a mustard seed. And that’s not much. … And I thank God that we had at least that much faith to get her through that,” Duane said several years ago about her cancer during the first bout.
The reality TV star said at the time that he’s sticking with his wife no matter what.
“When we made a pledge many years ago, I said I’d love her in sickness and in health until death do us part,” he told People magazine of his marriage. “And that truth has really, really come alive in my mind. And I have to stand on that; I gave her an oath that I would love her forever. And thank God it’s not till death do us part at this point.”
Celebrities Lost in 2019
Peggy Lipton
Actress Peggy Lipton, who starred in David Lynch’s iconic show “Twin Peaks,” and the 1960s show “The Mob Squad,” died on May 11 at the age of 72.
The cause of death was cancer.
Actress Rashida Jones (C) poses with her father Quincy Jones and her mother Peggy Lipton, at the premiere of "Celeste and Jesse Forever" at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 20, 2012. Lipton died of cancer at age 72. Danny Moloshok/AP Photo, File
Nipsey Hussle
Rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot dead at the age of 33 in South Los Angeles on March 31.
Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London in Los Angeles, on Feb. 7, 2019. The rapper was shot dead in late March. Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
Iconic “Boyz N The Hood” director and the youngest ever Oscar nominee for best picture died after spending days in a coma following a stroke.
John Singleton at the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, Calif., on March 4, 2018. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Peter Tork
Peter Tork of the Monkees died at 77 in February 2019. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
Albert Finney
British actor Albert Finney died in February 2019 at the age of 82. Lucy Nicholson/AFP/Getty Images
James Ingram
Longtime R&B singer James Ingram died in late January. Quincy Jones, a collaborator of his, wrote, “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James Ingram was simply magical ... every beautiful note that James sang pierced your essence and comfortably made itself at home.”
Singer James Ingram died at the age of 66 after a battle with brain cancer, according to reports on Jan. 29. Getty Images
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Tom Ozimek
Reporter
Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.
