Art Evans, known for his roles in movies such as Die Hard 2 and A Soldier's Story has died at the age of 82. The news of Evans' death was confirmed by his family, who shared a statement with several outlets. While most of them do not detail a specific cause of death, Deadline reports he died of diabetes on Saturday, December 21.
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"We are heartbroken to share that Art has passed away. Please respect our privacy at this time," reads a statement shared with Variety. "A memorial will be held for friends and family to attend at a later date. Thank you." According to Evans' rep, who confirmed the diabetes cause of death to Deadline, his disease was "a condition he courageously managed for many years."
Evans' wife, Babe, also shared a statement with Deadline in which he called Art a "devoted husband," a "friend," and a "source of light to everyone who knew him." "His laughter, passion, and love of life will be deeply missed," Babe said. "While our hearts are heavy, we celebrate the legacy of joy and inspiration he leaves behind."
While Evans's on-screen appearances diminished throughout the years, some fans still mourned his passing. "We losing so many from our favorite iconic childhood movies. Harsh," one user said. "I enjoyed his character in Die Hard 2. Very sad news. R.I.P," a second user said.
LaDarrion Williams, a bestselling author and playwright also talked about Evans' passing on X. "I was so honored to be able to work with Art Evans on a play that I helped write," Williams said. "He was genuine and didn't play when it came to the art of theatre."
Remembering Art Evans
Art Evans, born in California IN 1942, started his acting career at Frank SIlver'as Theater of Being during the '60s. His minor roles eventually led him to more prominent ones, leading to one of his most famous roles as Wilkie in A Soldier's Story. He shared the big screen with stars such as Denzel Washington and Adolph Caesar in 1984.
Evans is also remembered fondly for his role as Leslie Barnes in the 1990 film, Die Hard 2. "In the film, his character, a tower control engineer, helps Bruce Willis' John McClane stop terrorists. He appeared in other films such as Ruthless People, The Story of Us, Metro, and most recently, Orphaned.
