M. Emmet Walsh, 'Blade Runner' and 'Blood Simple' Actor, Dies at 88

[rogerballard]

Source: Variety

M. Emmet Walsh, a veteran character actor who appeared in more than 150 films including “Blade Runner,” “Blood Simple” and “Knives Out” and played Dermot Mulroney’s dad in “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” has died.

His manager Sandy Joseph confirmed that he died Tuesday in Vermont. He was 88.

In Ridley Scott’s 1982 “Blade Runner,” Walsh was Harrison Ford’s LAPD boss, while he played the vicious private detective Loren Visser in the Coen brothers’ directing debut “Blood Simple.” Wearing a sickly yellow suit, Pauline Kael said he was the film’s “only colorful performer. He lays on the loathsomeness, but he gives it a little twirl — a sportiness.”

Read more: https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/m-emmet-walsh-dead-blade-runner-1235947723/

[pecosbob]

1. Siskel and Ebert coined the Stanton-Walsh rule for films.

Any film that contains M.Emmet Walsh or Harry Dean Stanton can't be all bad. I believe the only film that the two starred in together was 'Straight Time' also starring Al Pacino and Gary Busey...great movie. Derp...Dustin Hoffman.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

4. Dustin Hoffman.

[pecosbob]

5. Eff...you're right. Hoffman...not Pacino.

[NBachers]

6. Straight Time was great, but it was Dustin Hoffman, not Al Pacino.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Yikes

He was so recognizable as a character actor too! His part in "Blade Runner" was basically a run-of-the-mill police captain guy...

The movie was trashed so when it first came out and now it is a cult classic.

R.I.P.

[ItsjustMe]

3. I just revisited the film blood simple

About 5 days ago, great film.

RIP Mr. Walsh

[JoseBalow]

9. A lot of underrated neo-noir films slipped by unnoticed in the 80s

for some reason I really don't understand. But Blood Simple was really a great one, it's one of my favorites.

[PSPS]

7. This guy was never out of work. In over 200 productions.

We've all seen him in his many roles. Here are some I remember well:

Clean and Sober
Harry and the Hendersons
Raising Arizona
Amazing Stories episode "Magic Saturday" (TV)
Back to School
Fletch
Silkwood
Ordinary People
The Jerk
Slap Shot
The Rockford Files episode "Counter Gambit" (TV)
The Bob Newhart Show episode "P-I-L-O-T" (TV)
All in the Family episode "The Saga of Cousin Oscar" (TV)

1954 Senior High School Yearbook:


Various roles:

[JoseBalow]

8. I always loved his movies

He was great in everything he did.

[progressoid]

15. "He hates these cans! Stay away from these cans!"

[keopeli]

10. He was the swim coach in my favorite movie, Ordinary People (1980). Rest gently, good soul!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. And the diving coach in one of my favorites!

?si=D3kFi_WtSYzMXXmF

[Mblaze]

11. RIP M. Emmet Walsh

I especially loved him in “Cannery Row”.

[Mr. Evil]

13. That's one of my all-time favorites.

He and Frank McRea were awesome in that film.

[Mblaze]

20. I don't understand how that movie consistently got so-so reviews

Last edited Sun Mar 24, 2024, 02:26 PM - Edit history (1)

It’s Steinbeck after all. I think it is really more “Sweet Thursday” than “Cannery Row”.

[Ohio Joe]

12. Oh... RIP

Very sad, a wonderful actor. RIP

[Kennah]

14. Clean and Sober, as Michael Keaton's sponsor

[BumRushDaShow]

19. I remember when they filmed parts of "Clean and Sober" here in Philly

They had a scene in a little diner not far from where I worked and the production crews were all over the area there.

I know a bunch of us walked over there to see if we could spot Michael Keaton.

They filmed at an area mall too and Walsh is in this scene -

[MuseRider]

16. Another one down.

I don't usually remember the parts they had, poor memory, but I remember their names and settle down knowing that at least part of whatever movie it is will be great. I am really sorry to see this man go. He enhanced everything he was involved in. RIP

[Aristus]

17. I wonder what he was like in real life?

He was so good at playing either skeevy, societal fringe players, or out-and-out villains. Actors like that are often real sweethearts in real life.