One of the entertainment industry’s finest character actors has died. Maury Chaykin, age 61, died yesterday due to complications from renal disease.
Chaykin is best known for his brief, but scene stealing role in Kevin Costner’s “Dancing With Wolves” in which he played Costner’s mentally unbalanced commanding officer. However, since his debut as an actor in 1975 the actor has appeared in over 160 big screen films and television shows. Some of his work included movies like “The Postman,” “My Cousin Vinny” and “Devil in the Blue Dress”. A fan of scifi, Chaykin appeared in many genre-related projects including “Stargate SG1,” “Lexx,” “Andromeda,” “The Eleventh Hour” and “Eureka”.
He has one film currently in post-production titled “Conduct Unbecoming,” which is due to hit theaters later this year.
Chaykin died on his birthday in his home country of Canada and is survived by his wife, actress Susannah Hoffman, and their daughter Rose.
I remember him from many roles.
He was great in My Cousin Vinny, Mystery Alaska and as the Sheriff in the Eureka Pilot.
He was a great character actor, you never knew his name but when you saw him, you instantly knew ten films that you’ve seen him in.
“I’m a fast cook, I guess!”
R.I.P.