Veteran actor Harris Yulin, known for his powerful performances in Scarface and Ghostbusters II, has died at age 87. His family and manager, Sue Leibman, confirmed he passed away from cardiac arrest Tuesday in New York City.
“Yulin was part of the vanguard of a generation who cared passionately about the craft of acting,” a statement read, honoring his lifelong dedication to the art.
Born November 5, 1937, in Los Angeles, Yulin began his stage career in 1963 with Next Time I’ll Sing to You, and made his Broadway debut in Watch on the Rhine (1980). His Broadway credits included The Price, The Visit, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Hedda Gabler. He also directed numerous plays, including The Glass Menagerie and The Trip to Bountiful.
Yulin’s film debut came in 1970’s End of the Road. He went on to appear in dozens of films, including Clear and Present Danger (1994), Bean (1997), Training Day (2001), and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012).
On television, he earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for his 1996 guest role on Frasier. His TV work included roles in Ozark, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 24, Veep, Billions, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Though never seeking stardom, Yulin embraced each role as it came. “I just do the next thing that comes along,” he told the Irish Times in 2010.
At the time of his passing, he was filming the MGM+ series American Classic, directed by Michael Hoffman, who praised Yulin as “one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered.”
Yulin was previously in a relationship with actress Faye Dunaway and was married to actress Gwen Welles until her death in 1993. He is survived by his wife Kristen Lowman, son-in-law Ted Mineo, nephew Martin Crane, and godchildren Marco and Lara Greenberg. He was predeceased by his daughter, actress Claire Lucido.
