Art Evans, the versatile actor celebrated for his role as Leslie Barnes in ‘Die Hard 2’, has passed away at the age of 82.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a family representative confirmed that Evans died peacefully in his sleep on December 21, surrounded by his loved ones. His wife, Babe Evans, shared a heartfelt statement, requesting privacy during this difficult time. “We are heartbroken to share that Art has passed away. A memorial for friends and family will be held later. Thank you,” she said.
Leslie Barnes, an air traffic control worker helping Bruce Willis’ John McClane to stop the terrorists, is not easily forgotten. Another role of his that was widely acclaimed is Private James Wilkie in ‘A Soldier’s Story (1984)’. There he was on the screen with Denzel Washington and Adolph Caesar.
Born on March 27, 1942, in Berkeley, California, Evans discovered his passion for acting at Frank Silvera’s Theater of Being. He made his Broadway debut in The Amen Corner in 1965, marking the beginning of a prolific career that spanned more than four decades. With over 120 acting credits under his name, Evans was able to showcase his talent in film, television, and theater.
Evans appeared in some iconic films, such as ‘Christine’, in which he was the doomed first victim of the evil car; ‘Fright Night’; ‘School Daze’; ‘Tales from the Hood’; and ‘Metro’. He also had an equally notable television career, with memorable guest appearances on such popular shows as ‘MASH*’, ‘Hill Street Blues’, ‘Monk’, ‘The X-Files’, ‘Family Matters’, and ‘A Different World’.
In his final outing, Evans voiced the character Charlie in the animated series ‘The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder’.
