# Dean Stockwell has died at age 85 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [November 9, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059 "2021-11-09T18:15:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/21 "2021-11-10T04:22:35Z")
No shit. Those off-duty clothes he wore as Al Calavicci in _Quantum Leap_ were something else. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/22 "2021-11-10T04:32:23Z")
I saw an interview with him, he talked about how he hated being a child actor, and was forced to work to support his mother and brother after his father left the family. [TCM Interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhPosL3UAN8&ab_channel=TurnerClassicMovies) StG ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/23 "2021-11-10T05:48:55Z")
He was set up by creepy murderer Robert Vaughn, but of course Columbo saw through the frame! This was the episode where Patrick MacNee and Bernard Fox were also guest stars. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/24 "2021-11-10T07:41:51Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > One suave fuck! - Frank Booth > > Addendum: He and I had the same birthday (March 5th). Makes me extra sad. > > I will play “Candy Colored Clown” in remembrance tonight. Maybe I’ll down a Heineken in his honor tonight. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/25 "2021-11-10T13:09:43Z")
Considering that another version of **Dune** is out now, it’s interesting to note that he played Doctor wellington Yueh in the 1984 David Lynch version. Chang Shen plays him in the current version. > [@](#): > > I recently was watching **[The Dunwich Horror](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065669/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_146)** which he starred in. One of the first things I thought of, oddly enough. What’s interesting here is that he also had a big role in the 2008 TV movie of the same novel, playing Dr. Armitage this time instead of Wilbur Whately Sadly, neither version is really very good, or at all faithful to Lovecraft’s excellent story. The 1970 version is interesting in that it was an early attempt by American-International to introduce some sex and nudity into their horror films, along with psychedelic overtones. > **[The Dunwich Horror (TV Movie 2008) ⭐ 3.6 | Horror, Thriller](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226752/)** > > 1h 31m | R ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/26 "2021-11-10T15:22:34Z")
Heineken??? Fuck that shit! PABST BLUE RIBBON! ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/27 "2021-11-10T20:58:54Z")
I will always remember Mr. Stockwell as “Dave” in the sixties time-capsule _Psych-Out_ (1968) lecturing a pony-tailed Jack Nicholson (as “Stoney’), “You’re righteous, Stoney, but you’re not very hip.” Later, he proves himself a total dickwad by giving the powerful psychedelic STP to innocent deaf runaway Susan Strasberg. I recall him being very good in _The Secret Garden_ (1949), though without much to do. He is excellent in the title role of _Kim_ (1950) as an orphan participating in “The Great Game” of geopolitical intrigue in India. He was also well-cast in _Long Day’s Journey into Night_ (1962) – a film no one should see twice - as an alcoholic, but he is upstaged by his co-stars and Katherine Hepburn’s hair. Nevertheless, his finest performance for me is as Howard Hughes in _Tucker: The Man and his Dream_ (1988). Without resort to cliché or parody, Mr. Stockwell captured the charisma, paranoia and disconnected thinking of a drug-addled Hughes in a one-scene cameo lasting but a few minutes, yet leaving an indelible impression. It is the best cinematic portrayal of Hughes, imo. Given his talent and with better career timing, I think Mr. Stockwell could have made a very credible Tony Stark. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/28 "2021-11-10T22:36:04Z")
_Paris, Texas_ isn’t the greatest movie. Not really all that much to it, but what makes it so enjoyable is it stars Harry Dean Stanton and Dean Stockwell. These two guys together in one movie makes it worth watching. And of course, “Fuck That Shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon!” ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/29 "2021-11-11T05:03:11Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > He was also well-cast in _Long Day’s Journey into Night_ (1962) – a film no one should see twice - as an alcoholic, but he is upstaged by his co-stars and Katherine Hepburn’s hair. Jason Robards played the older brother alcoholic, Stockwell had tuberculosis. That was a large part of the conflict of the play, whether the skinflint father would pay to send him to a decent sanatorium. I thought he held his own. I was sorry to see that he hated being a child actor. He was good at it, engaging without being too cute. I remember him in Anchors Aweigh, he had a lot of screen time in that movie and never became unbearable. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/30 "2021-11-11T16:07:23Z")
Battlestar Galactica had references to The Boy With Green Hair, btw > **[The Boy with Green Hair | Cultural references](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_with_Green_Hair#Cultural_references)** > > The 2009 film Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, which also starred (the adult) Dean Stockwell, made extensive reference to The Boy with Green Hair. Director Edward James Olmos, a fan of Stockwell's earlier film, had a replica of Peter's costume created for a war orphan character in The Plan named John. Olmos stated that he wanted John to have green hair, but the studio refused to allow it. > Stockwell's voice acting of Tim Drake in the DC Animated Universe film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker wou... > The 2009 film _[Battlestar Galactica: The Plan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlestar_Galactica:_The_Plan)_ , which also starred (the adult) Dean Stockwell, made extensive reference to _The Boy with Green Hair_ . Director [Edward James Olmos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_James_Olmos), a fan of Stockwell’s earlier film, had a replica of Peter’s costume created for a war orphan character in _The Plan_ named John. Olmos stated that he wanted John to have green hair, but the studio refused to allow it ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/31 "2021-11-14T01:39:13Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I saw an interview with him, he talked about how he hated being a child actor, and was forced to work to support his mother and brother after his father left the family. > > [TCM Interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhPosL3UAN8&ab_channel=TurnerClassicMovies) > > StG I’m sorry to learn that Dean Stockwell felt that way about his childhood roles. Certainly he didn’t show it–I can’t imagine any other kid being as effective in _Gentleman’s Agreement_ as he was. When contemplating the sad loss of so many performers from the Silver Screen era, I’d often think ‘well, at least we still have Dean Stockwell—he acted with William Powell and Myrna Loy!’ A true professional, and a unique presence. Condolences to his family and friends. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/32 "2021-11-14T01:58:07Z")
Oh…life well lived! ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059/33 "2021-11-14T02:04:13Z")
Despite Frank Booth obviously dominating this clip, I post it anyway to show what I’ve always noted, in the way Stockwell slightly recedes, turning away, and switching off the light as his exuent from the flick, and now, life. _And now, it’s dark_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N755jvOUCNI/hqdefault.jpg "Dennis Hopper: Let's fuck! I'll fuck anything that moves!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N755jvOUCNI) R.I.P. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-stockwell-has-died-at-age-85/954059.md?page=1)