Veteran Actor Harris Yulin Dies at 87 After Cardiac Arrest
Harris Yulin, the La Jolla-born veteran actor whose face and talent graced more than 100 film, television, and stage productions, passed away from cardiac arrest on June 10, 2025, in New York City. He was 87 .
Born November 5, 1937, Yulin entered the world of acting with his stage debut in 1963’s Next Time I'll Sing to You. His Broadway presence began in 1980, evolving with roles in The Diary of Anne Frank, The Price, and Hedda Gabler—earning critical acclaim and Drama Desk Award nods.
Yulin crafted unforgettable characters on screen, including:
- Officer Mel Bernstein in Scarface (1983), opposite Al Pacino
- Judge Stephen Wexler in Ghostbusters II (1989)
- Roles in Clear and Present Danger, Training Day, Bean, The Hurricane, and the documentary Looking for Richard .
His TV roles spanned genres and series:
- Emmy-nominated for playing Jerome Belasco on Frasier (1996)
- Memorable appearances in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 24, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer .
- More recently, he won praise as Buddy Dieker on Ozark, earning a Screen Actors Guild ensemble nomination in 2019.
Beyond acting, Yulin taught at prestigious institutions like Juilliard and Columbia, and directed acclaimed productions such as The Glass Menagerie.
At his passing, Yulin was preparing to star alongside Laura Linney and Kevin Kline in the forthcoming MGM+ series American Classic. Director Michael Hoffman praised him as “one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered” .
Colleagues and fans alike celebrated Yulin’s precision, depth, and spirit. Entertainment Weekly noted his career spanned six decades. The Guardian echoed that he was “a celebrated stage performer” and television mainstay. People highlighted his humility and dedication, calling him a "gift to audiences and the art of acting" .
Yulin, co‑founder of Los Angeles Classic Theater, was also an avid birder and lover of the sea. He is survived by his wife, Kristen Lowman, son‑in‑law Ted Mineo, nephew Martin Crane, godchildren Marco and Lara Greenberg—and mourns the loss of his daughter, Claire Lucido, in 2022
