Actor Tom Bower, best known for his roles in “The Waltons” and “Die Hard 2,” passed away last week at the age of 86.
Bower died on May 30 at his home in Los Angeles, confirmed by his representative Marsha McManus in an emailed statement to USA TODAY. “He was an extraordinary human being,” McManus said.
The Denver-born actor reportedly died in his sleep, as shared by his sister-in-law Mary Miller to The Hollywood Reporter.
Bower made his television debut in the early 1970s, playing a police guard in the 1973 TV movie “Incident at Vichy.” Following his breakthrough, he guest-starred in series like “Kojak,” “The Bionic Woman,” and “The Rockford Files.”
In “The Waltons,” Bower first appeared during the family drama’s fourth season in 1975 as Rex Barker. He later played Dr. Curtis Willard in Seasons 5-7.
During the ‘80s and ‘90s, Bower graced the silver screen with roles in “Massive Retaliation” (1984), “Beverly Hills Cop II” (1987), “Raising Cain” (1992), and “Nixon” (1995).
In 1990, Bower played Marvin in “Die Hard 2,” alongside Bruce Willis, William Atherton, and Bonnie Bedelia. The action thriller grossed $117.5 million at the global box office.
Bower remained active in the 2000s and 2010s with roles in “The West Wing” (2000), “Law & Order” (2001), “The Hills Have Eyes” (2006), “Grey’s Anatomy” (2013), “Criminal Minds” (2013), and “Bosch” (2016).
His most recent role was Henry Devereaux Sr. on the Bob Odenkirk-led dramedy “Lucky Hank” in 2023.
