Academy Award nominated actor Ned Beatty, who appeared in films like Deliverance, Nashville, Superman and Toy Story 3, has sadly passed away. He is survived by his wife Sandra Johnson, his eight children and his grandchildren.
"Ned was an iconic, legendary talent, as well as a dear friend," said Deborah Miller, his manager, to Deadline. "He will be missed by us all." In 1972, Beatty got the role of Bobby Trippe in Deliverance, which propelled his career from strength to strength after ten years in regional theatre. He joked that he would always be almost recognisable for his prolific portfolio, and he appeared in more than 150 movies and TV shows. In the '70s, these included Nashville, All the President's Men, Silver Streak, Exorcist II: The Heretic, and he received his Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor playing Arthur Jensen in Network. Stunningly, Beatty got the news that he would be brought on board the film only one night before he was due on set, with a four page speech to prepare for. He completed shooting in just one day.
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You're likely to recognise Beatty for his role as Otis Berg in Superman and Superman II. One of Lex Luthor's trusted henchmen, Berg is foolish yet very loyal to the ruthless business magnate, trailing after him though it's absolutely not in his best interest to do so. However, his character proved popular enough to warrant Berg's appearance in the comic books, as he had been made up for the movie. Speaking to The New York Times in 1977, he explained why he never felt a pull towards starring roles in spite of his evident adaptability and talent.
"Stars never want to throw the audience a curveball, but my great joy is throwing curveballs," said the actor. "Being a star cuts down on your effectiveness as an actor because you become an identifiable part of a product and somewhat predictable. You have to mind your Ps and Qs and nurture your fans. But I like to surprise the audience, to do the unexpected." Graduating from lackey to villain, Beatty lent his voice to Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear in Toy Story 3, and received praise for his performance. I mean, it's truly unbelievable to turn a bright pink fluffy bear into a literal sociopath in the series of animated movies about sentient toys. He's worse than Sid, and that's saying something.
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros., Disney