One of Hollywood's most popular and recognizable character actors, Harry Dean Stanton† (July 14, 1926 – September 15, 2017) made a career out of playing supporting roles. His first appearance was in an episode of Inner Sanctum in 1954, and following that he appeared in a vast number of television shows and movies across six decades.
He is also the first (and currently only) film actor to have an entire film festival devoted to him, The Harry Dean Stanton Fest is an annual event in Lexington, Kentucky (near where he was born and grew up) that showcases his films.
Significant Roles:
- How the West Was Won (1963): Gant Henchman (uncredited)
- Cool Hand Luke (1967): Tramp
- Kelly's Heroes (1970): Private Willard
- Two-Lane Blacktop (1971): Oklahoma Hitchhiker
- Dillinger (1973): Homer Van Meter. ("Things ain't working out for me today!")
- Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973): Luke
- The Godfather Part II (1974): One of the FBI Agents guarding Frank Pentangeli.
- Zandy's Bride (1974): Songer
- Farewell, My Lovely (1975): Detective Rolfe
- Straight Time (1978): Jerry Schue
- Wise Blood (1979): Asa Hawks
- Alien (1979): Brett
- The Rose (1979): Billy Ray
- Death Watch (1980): Vincent Ferriman
- Private Benjamin (1980): Sergeant First Class Jim Ballard
- One from the Heart (1981): Moe
- Escape from New York (1981): Brain
- Christine (1983): Detective Rudolph Junkins
- Repo Man (1984): Bud, the repo man who recruits Emilio Estevez; he later reprised this role in Chuck.
- Paris, Texas (1984): Travis Henderson (a rare leading man role for him)
- Red Dawn (1984): Patrick Swayze's and Charlie Sheen's dad. (AVENGE ME!)
- One Magic Christmas (1985): The Christmas Angel, Gideon.
- Fool for Love (1985): The Old Man
- Pretty in Pink (1986): Molly Ringwald's father.
- The Last Temptation of Christ (1988): Saul/Paul of Tarsus
- Wild at Heart (1990): Johnnie Farragut
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992): Carl Rodd
- Against the Wall (1994): Hal Smith
- Down Periscope (1996): Chief Engineer CPO Howard
- Fire Down Below (1997): Cotton Harry
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998): The Judge (cameo)
- The Green Mile (1999): Toot-Toot
- The Straight Story (1999): Lyle Straight
- Sonny (2002): Henry
- Inland Empire (2006): Freddie Howard
- Alpha Dog (2006): Cosmo Gadabeeti
- Big Love (2006-2010): Roman Grant
- Rango (2011): Balthazar (voice)
- The Avengers (2012): The security guard who gives Bruce Banner fresh clothes ("Are you a big guy who gets little, or a little guy who somehow gets all big?")
- Seven Psychopaths (2012): The Quaker Psychopath (a role he sort of shares with Christopher Walken).
- The Last Stand (2013): Mr. Parsons
- Twin Peaks: The Return (2017): Carl Rodd
