Ned Beatty, known for the movies "Superman," "Network" and many others, died Sunday. He was 83.
A family member told TMZ the veteran actor died in his sleep surrounded by relatives at his home. Though there weren't any further details the death was not Covid-19 related.
Manager Deborah Miller said died of natural causes around 7:30 a.m.
Beatty was one of the top character actors with more than 160 film credits in his colorful, more than five-decade career. Who could ever forget his roles as Otis, Arthur Jensen or Bobby?
His one-time appearance in "Network" - that featured an unforgettable six-minute speech - earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars. He effortlessly made the serious character of Otis into a comedic one after he flipped the script.
Before he made it big on the big screen, Beatty spent years in the regional theaters. He was then cast in the 1972 movie "Deliverance."
The scene where he had to "squeal like a pig" after being sodomized became one of its most memorable scenes. Though moviegoers didn't know his name at the time his face would be remembered for a long time.
"For people like me, there's a lot of 'I know you! I know you! What have I seen you in?'" he said in 1992, according to The Associated Press. Despite his acting skill, Beatty chose to be a supporting actor.
In an interview with The New York Times in 1977 he said it was a joy to throw curveballs, which stars couldn't do.
"Being a star cuts down on your effectiveness as an actor because you become an identifiable part of a product and somewhat predictable," he said. "You have to mind your Ps and Qs and nurture your fans. But I like to surprise the audience; do the unexpected."
Beatty did, and successfully.
The actor is survived by his wife Sandra Johnson whom he married in 1999 and eight children from his three previous marriages.
