Academy Award-nominated actor Robert Forster died Friday in Los Angeles after a brief battle with brain cancer, Deadline reports. He was 78.
Forster was perhaps best known for his role as bail bondsman Max Cherry in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, a role that was written with him in mind and for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. But he also appeared in over 100 films across his storied career, including Reflections in A Golden Eye, Mulholland Dr., Me, Myself & Irene, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, The Descendants, and more. On television, he had roles on Karen Sisco, Heroes, and Twin Peaks: The Return.
Forster is survived by his partner, Denise Grayson, children Bobby, Elizabeth, Kate, and Maeghen, and grandchildren Tess, Liam, Jack, and Olivia. He has two more projects scheduled to be released this year, Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories and Werewolf.
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Most recently, Forster reprised the role he played on Breaking Bad, the disappearer Ed Galbraith, in Netflix’s El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. The film debuted on the service Friday, the same day he died. Co-star Bryan Cranston remembered the actor on Twitter. “I’m saddened today by the news that Robert Forster has passed away,” he wrote. “A lovely man and a consummate actor. I met him on the movie Alligator (pic) 40 years ago, and then again on BB. I never forgot how kind and generous he was to a young kid just starting out in Hollywood. RIP Bob.”
I’m saddened today by the news that Robert Forster has passed away. A lovely man and a consummate actor. I met him on the movie Alligator (pic) 40 years ago, and then again on BB. I never forgot how kind and generous he was to a young kid just starting out in Hollywood. RIP Bob. pic.twitter.com/HtunD0Fx6g
— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) October 12, 2019
On Saturday, El Camino star Aaron Paul took to Instagram to remember the actor. “I am heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of my dear friend Robert Forster,” he wrote. “My god. I had the privilege of knowing this beautiful man and working along side of him. A true gentleman that loved to act. I love you my friend. Thank you for loving me back. You are and always will be a legend.”
It wasn’t just Cranston and Paul though. Actors, directors, and producers across Hollywood were saddened by the news of Forster’s passing and shared their condolences on social media.
“Robert Forster wasn’t only one of the best people I’ve ever known in the industry, he was one of the best people I’ve known anywhere,” James Gunn wrote on Instagram, detailing Forster’s long history of giving advice to others in the industry. “He’d do all this for free because, again, he was simply a kind soul. I just woke up to the news he passed away. It’s been a while since we’ve spoken and I wish I could have told him what he meant to me before today. It was a lot.”
“RIP Robert Forster!! A truly class act/ Actor!!” Samuel L. Jackson tweeted.
RIP Robert Forster!! A truly class act/ Actor!!
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) October 12, 2019
“Oh, Dear Robert – Beloved by all of us in our community of actors,” Frances Fisher tweeted. “Remembering our classic poker nights at Norby’s: We’d joke ‘We’ll bury our friends and one day it will be me.’ Today is your day. Fly with the angels dear friend. Blessings.”
Oh, Dear Robert – Beloved by all of us in our community of actors.
Remembering our classic poker nights at Norby’s:
We’d joke “We’ll bury our friends and one day it will be me.”
Today is your day. 💗
Fly with the angels dear friend.
Blessings ✨— Frances Fisher (@Frances_Fisher) October 12, 2019