Ed Lauter

Ed Lauter appeared in small supporting roles in more than 200 movies and television shows, in the process becoming an instantly recognizable face. His imposing height, fierce squint and effortlessly intimidating demeanor made him a natural for playing authority figures of both the benign and malevolent variety, and his near constant output yielded a number of unforgettable film performances, from the sadistic yet ultimately honorable Captain Knauer in Robert Aldrich's "The Longest Yard" (1974), to Maloney, the arsonist-turned-gas station owner in Hitchcock's final film, "The Family Plot" (1976), to Peppy Miller's dutiful butler in the Academy Award winner for Best Picture, "The Artist" (2011). Lauter was also a familiar face on television, playing the stern Captain Cain on "B.J. and the Bear" (NBC, 1979-1981) and its spin-off, "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" (NBC, 1979-1981), as well as the uncharacteristically sympathetic role of Fire Captain Dannaker on "ER" (NBC, 1998-2002), in addition to scores of guest appearances on other series and supporting roles in TV movies. Though audiences may have struggled to remember his name, Ed Lauter's tough, authoritarian image was a familiar and reliable staple of American film and television up until his death in October 2013.