A familiar face from some of Hollywood’s most iconic crime and horror hits is gone.
Beau Starr — the rugged character actor known for his roles in the Halloween franchise and the mob classic Goodfellas — has died at 81.
According to his brother, Mike Starr, the veteran actor passed away on Friday, April 24, in Vancouver, Canada. His death was attributed to natural causes.
Before he ever stepped in front of a camera, Starr lived a completely different life — one filled with helmets and hard hits. He was once a professional football player, suiting up for the New York Jets as well as Canadian teams like the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. But his second act would take him from the gridiron to Hollywood — and into some unforgettable roles.
Starr’s acting journey kicked off in the late 1970s, with early appearances on shows like Bizarre and Three’s Company. He quickly became a go-to face for tough-guy roles, landing parts in hit series like The A-Team, The Fall Guy, and Highway to Heaven, along with films like Fletch and The Lonely Guy.
But it was horror fans who would remember him most.
In 1988, Starr stepped into the terrifying world of Michael Myers, playing Sheriff Ben Meeker in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. He reprised the role in Halloween 5, cementing his place in one of the most beloved slasher franchises of all time.
Two years later, he appeared in Goodfellas, the Oscar-winning mob epic, where he played the father of Ray Liotta’s character, Henry Hill — another small but memorable role in a legendary film.
Following news of his death, actor Christopher Serrone, who played young Henry Hill in Goodfellas, shared an emotional tribute.
“It is with a heavy heart… Beau enjoyed a rich and meaningful life,” Serrone wrote. “He was a son, brother, father, grandfather, actor and NFL/CFL player… Please take a moment to remember a great guy. RIP.”
Over the decades, Starr built a long and steady career, appearing in dozens of TV shows and films, including NYPD Blue, Psych, Doc, Speed, and NBC’s crime drama True Blue.
He may not have always been the leading man, but Beau Starr was the kind of actor audiences instantly recognized — the tough, reliable presence who made every scene feel a little more real.
Now, Hollywood says goodbye to one of its quiet mainstays — a man who went from the football field to the big screen and left his mark on both.
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