Harris Yulin, a prolific Emmy-nominated actor whose career spanned more than five decades across film, television and stage, died Tuesday of cardiac arrest in New York City. He was 88.
The character actor’s many films include “Scarface,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “Training Day.” He also played Buddy Dieker on the Netflix series “Ozark” from 2017 to 2018.
He guested on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and was Emmy nominated in 1996 for a guest role on “Frasier.”
He made his film debut in 1970 in the black comedy “End of the Road,” but landed his first featured role in Brian De Palma’s “Scarface” in 1983 as Mel Bernstein, a dirty narcotics cop.
The actor was always memorable even in small parts, such as the New York judge in “Ghostbusters II” who agrees to reverse murder charges for a pair of rampaging ghosts.
Yulin was also a well-respected theater actor, making his New York stage debut in 1963 in “Next Time I’ll Sing to You” and his first Broadway appearance in the 1980s production of “Watch on the Rhine.”
He also starred in Broadway productions of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “The Price” and “Hedda Gabler.”
The actor was set to begin production on the MGM+ series “American Classic,” opposite Kevin Kline and Laura Linney. Series co-creator Michael Hoffman told The Hollywood Reporter, “Harris Yulin was very simply one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered.”
Yulin was married to actress Gwen Welles from 1975 until her death in 1993 at age 42. He is survived by his second wife, actress Kristen Lowman, his son-in-law Ted, nephew Martin and godchildren Marco and Lara.
