Frederic Forrest, the actor who earned an Oscar nomination for his efficiency as Bette Midler’s limousine-driver-turned-lover in “The Rose,” has died. He was 86.
Midler confirmed Forrest’s loss of life Friday on Twitter, hailing her late co-star as a “outstanding actor” and “good human being.” Actor Barry Primus, who additionally appeared in “The Rose,” informed the Hollywood Reporter that Forrest died Friday at his dwelling in Santa Monica after a protracted sickness.
“I used to be fortunate to have him in my life,” Midler tweeted. “He was at peace.”
In a press release offered to the Los Angeles Occasions, Primus remembered Forrest as “an excellent actor” and “candy, endearing particular person.”
“He had such an eye fixed for eccentric characters, each in life and in his work,” Primus mentioned.
“If you employed Freddie for an element, you bought the entire package deal. His contributions had been all the time monumental, and his expertise shone brightest when he was given free rein. Working with him was a deal with and, for me, a studying expertise.”
On the 52nd Academy Awards, Forrest was a supporting actor nominee for taking part in Huston Dyer, an AWOL Military sergeant who falls in love with a rock star (Midler) loosely based mostly on Janis Joplin in 1979’s “The Rose.” Midler additionally obtained a nomination that 12 months for lead actress.
Forrest was born in Waxahachie, Texas, and studied performing in New York at Lee Strasberg’s studio earlier than making his big-screen debut in 1972’s “When the Legends Die,” in keeping with Turner Traditional Motion pictures. He was identified for his work in “The Rose,” “Hammett,” “Valley Lady” and dozens extra movies, notably options directed by Francis Ford Coppola together with “The Dialog,” “Apocalypse Now” and “One From the Coronary heart.”
Moreover, Forrest appeared in a lot of TV films and miniseries, together with “Larry,” “Ruby and Oswald,” “Who Will Love My Kids,” “The Deliberate Stranger,” “Lonesome Dove” and “Citizen Cohn.”
He’s survived by his sister, in keeping with the Hollywood Reporter.
“It was completely enchanting to spend a night listening to him inform tales, a lot enjoyable, and in its personal approach a form of efficiency artwork,” Primus informed The Occasions. “There was a love in them that made you’re feeling how loopy and great it was to be alive. It’s this love, together with Freddie’s poetic and exuberant persona, that one will get in his performances.
“The partitions of his room had been full of photos of the characters he created in a lot of his movies, and the people who stuffed his life. … Relaxation peacefully, Freddie. Nice efficiency!”
