Actor Art LeFleur died last Wednesday after losing a 10-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, his wife revealed on Saturday. He was 78.
Best known for playing baseball legend Babe Ruth in “The Sandlot,” LaFleur also appeared in “Field of Dreams” as a Black Sox member and “The Santa Claus 2” and “The Santa Claus 3” as the tooth fairy. Among his many other credits are “The A-Team,” “Baywatch” and “Home Improvement.”
LaFleur’s wife Shelley LaFleur confirmed it through her Facebook post on Friday:
“This guy… After a 10 year battle with A-typical Parkinson’s, Art LaFleur, the love of my life passed away. He brought laughter to so many people as Babe Ruth in the Sandlot, The Tooth Fairy in The Santa Clause 2 and 3, and Chick Gandil in Field of Dreams to name just a few. He was a generous and selfless man which carried over to his acting but more importantly it was who he was for his family and friends. Every location or set we visited him on, the cast and crew would introduce themselves and tell Molly, Joe, and me how Art spoke of us with such pride and love.”
She went on: “I was so very lucky to have had a 43 year relationship with a man who cherished me and who I adored. Art was larger than life and meant the world to us.”