# Harry Dean Stanton - Dead at 91 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [September 15, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432 "2017-09-15T22:58:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/21 "2017-09-16T00:46:44Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > “Ordinary fuckin’ people. I hate 'em.” > > One of my favoritest movie lines ever. > > RIP Bud. Ditto. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/22 "2017-09-16T01:01:57Z")
Saw him recently in _Two-Lane Blacktop_. Great in _Paris, Texas_. [R.I.P.](https://youtu.be/iF-qSBQC2H0?t=5204), Mr. Stanton. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/23 "2017-09-16T01:03:07Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > He had a nice (if small) role in the huge ensemble cast of _Twin Peaks: The Return_; I hadn’t realized that he had to be 90 (or close to it) when that was filmed. Small, but standout. He had some of the most gorgeous moments from the series, from witnessing the soul of the hit and run boy ascending, to playing guitar and singing Red River Valley. And two lines of his really stood out for me. “I been smoking every day for seventy five years,” and “I don’t like people selling their blood to eat.” I didn’t know most of his other work very well, but I’ll always remember Carl Rodd. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/24 "2017-09-16T01:33:27Z")
Pvt. Cowboy: God almighty, you guys smell like you fell into a dung heap! Crapgame: Kinda makes ya homesick, don’t it? Pvt. Willard: [to Pvt. Cowboy] You know it does, kinda, don’t it old buddy? I always thought Stephen King opened some kind of rift in the space-time continuum by naming a character in, “The Green Mile,” Dean Stanton. Then, the movie version has HDS in it, but not as Dean Stanton. The center does not hold. 😉 Thanks, Harry. You were a card. (Somewhere in that craggy face, he actually had a smile, and it was a damn good one.) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/25 "2017-09-16T01:34:39Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Saw him recently in _Two-Lane Blacktop_. Great in _Paris, Texas_. > > [R.I.P.](https://youtu.be/iF-qSBQC2H0?t=5204), Mr. Stanton. Warren Oates should have won Best Supporting Actor for _Two Lane Blacktop_. An often overlooked, sparse, ‘car nut’ tale of loneliness and friendship on the road. Harry only had a few moments of screen time as a gay hitch hiker but was memorable, like all the bit parts he played. Maybe Warren will pick him up and give a ride to wherever Harry is going. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/26 "2017-09-16T02:00:30Z")
Two Lane Blacktop. > **[Two-Lane Blacktop | IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1085513753/)** > > Trailer for Two-Lane Blacktop ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/27 "2017-09-16T03:26:17Z")
I think one of Roger Ebert’s movie “laws” (?) was that no film with J. Emmet Walsh or Harry Dean Stanton could be bad. First noticed HDS in **Alien**. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/28 "2017-09-16T03:41:55Z")
He was a great singer too. Here he is singing over Ry Cooder: [Ry Cooder - Canción Mixteca - YouTube](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CO7vTfkCbqo) He was best man at Jack Nicholson’s wedding. And he sang in Cool Hand Luke! But don’t call him Harold! If you haven’t seen Paris, Texas stop what you’re doing and go watch it now. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/29 "2017-09-16T04:02:55Z")
Aww. I was thinking literally the other day about how he’s still around but that everything is inevitable. I’ll pour a beer for the ultimate “That Guy.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/30 "2017-09-16T04:36:53Z")
Good enough to have a rule named for him! > [@](#): > > According to Roger Ebert’s Stanton-Walsh Rule, “no movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad”. ETA: Just saw that **TreacherousCretin** mentioned this. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/31 "2017-09-16T06:21:36Z")
Paris Texas was awesome. Knew and like a tiny bit of his performances before that, but Paris really cemented it for me. IIRC HDS also had a lot of misgivings about taking the lead after being a character actor for \*decades \*before that. I saw it in the US on the first run and then a year later in China dubbed into Chinese. I only mention that because back in the 1980s I think only 2 or 4 foreign movies were allowed to shown in China, and it was one of them. Awesome. I just re-watched the final scenes, 30+ years later and now as a parent. Jesus fucking Christ what a great movie and great acting. Also, I was a punk rock, so Repo Man has a special place. Also, IIRC for Aliens, the actors were not told about the alien bursting out of the stomach scene in advance so they could capture the “real” reactions. HSD was awesome. RIP dude ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/32 "2017-09-16T11:32:35Z")
So he was 70 when he played the chief engineer in “Down Periscope”? Older than the submarine itself. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/33 "2017-09-16T12:10:51Z")
> [@RadioWave](#): > > Dang. One night long ago, a buddy and I were sitting in a dive bar by the beach listening to some guy play the blues. I looked over my shoulder and saw a man next to me who wasn’t just sitting in the shadows, more like he was part of the darkness itself, like a part of the wall that had been there since the place was first built. As I looked at him, he took a drag off his cigarette and it lit up every crag and crevice in his face like the last of the sun shining on a cliff. He leaned forward and asked me the time. We spoke a little more about the band and local bars then he went up on stage and played harmonica for a while. > > Fantastic life he led. You forgot to reveal that that person was … ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/34 "2017-09-16T15:00:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You forgot to reveal that that person was … Bob Dylan. I thought it was obvious. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/35 "2017-09-16T15:45:56Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Bob Dylan. I thought it was obvious. hmmmm I think you meant to say Paul Reubens actually. Apparently there were a bunch of annual Harry Dean Stanton Fests, held in Lexington, Kentucky. Cool. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/36 "2017-09-16T16:42:31Z")
Avenge him! Aveennnnggeeee him!!! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/37 "2017-09-16T16:53:11Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > P…Also, IIRC for Aliens, the actors were not told about the alien bursting out of the stomach scene in advance so they could capture the “real” reactions. HSD was awesome… It was _Alien_, not _Aliens_, but yes, he was. I confess I haven’t seen him in too many other movies but that. May he rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/38 "2017-09-16T18:04:06Z")
Wow. Harry Dean Stanton died. Damn. He had a nice long run – 91 years (!) – and a distinguished acting career. Would that we all could do so well. But I’m a little sadder today, knowing that the actor who played two of my favorite characters in two of my favorite movies (Bud from _ **Repo Man** _, of course, and Johnny Farragut from _ **Wild At Heart** _) is no longer among us. _Ave,_ Mr. Stanton, _ **AVE!** _ ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/39 "2017-09-16T18:45:15Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > ETA: Bud schools Otto. That’s the scene I posted to Facebook. It occurred to me that I was aware of the Repo Code well before I was aware of Asimov’s laws of robotics. RIP ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432/40 "2017-09-16T19:08:16Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Good enough to have a rule named for him! > > ETA: Just saw that **TreacherousCretin** mentioned this. You did it better by presenting it the way I would have, had I not been too lazy to look it up. ETA: and I’d misspelled M. Emmet Walsh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-dean-stanton-dead-at-91/796432.md?page=3)