Bo Hopkins, best known for his role in the film “American Graffiti,” has died. He was 80 years old. The actor’s death was announced on his official website.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that Bo has passed away. Bo loved hearing from his fans from around the world and although he was unable to respond to every email over the last few years, he appreciated hearing from each and every one of you,” the website says.
Hopkins got his start in feature films as ‘Crazy Lee’ in the iconic 1969 western ‘The Wild Bunch.’ He was subsequently hired by director Sam Peckinpah for another supporting turn as a bank robber in ‘The Getaway’ (1972).
‘White Lightning’ (1973), ‘Posse’ (1975), ‘The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing’ (1973), and ‘Midnight Express’ (1978) are Hopkins’ other remarkable projects.Born in 1942 in Greenville, South Carolina, he appeared in more than 100 film and television roles in a career that spanned more than five decades. As per aDeadline’, he picked up the nickname ‘Bo’ thanks to a character of the same name he played in Bus Stop, his first off-Broadway play.His television appearances included ‘The Phyllis Diller Show’, ‘The Virginian’, ‘Gunsmoke’, ‘The Wild Wild West’ and ‘The Andy Griffith Show’. His first shot at a regularly scheduled TV series came in 1973 in medical drama ‘Doc Elliott’, which premiered for just one season.
As soon as the news of Hopkins’ passing hit the internet, a slew of celebrities from around the world voiced their sorrow. Matt Oswalt, a writer and actor, took to Twitter to say, “RIP Bo Hopkins. Even if you don’t recognise the name I’m sure you’ve seen him. American Graffiti, Midnight Express, and Wild Bunch to name a few. His IMDB page is like a CVS receipt of great character actor parts “
Peyton Reed, an American television and film director, expressed his sorrow by writing, “I love Bo Hopkins. One of my all-time favorite character actors. Rest In Peace” Several other well-known figures have also expressed their sorrow at Bo Hopkins’ death.
Prior to acting, Hopkins had served in the U.S. Army. He joined the U.S. Army at the age of 16. Hopkins was born on February 2, 1942, in Greenville, S.C., as William Hopkins.