Tom Bower, the versatile actor known for aiding John McClane in thwarting terrorists in “Die Hard 2,” has passed away at the age of 86. According to his sister-in-law, Mary Miller, Bower died in his sleep at his Los Angeles home on May 30, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
With a presence that lent itself well to a variety of roles, Bower often portrayed complex, gritty characters. Bower's acting prowess was also evident on television, where he took on numerous roles in popular series.
Bower's acting career was marked by a series of standout roles: He first hit the silver screen in the indie classic “Shadows,” in 1957. His role as a bumbling translator in the 1982 Western “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” caught the eye of fans. In 1995, Bower portrayed the father of Anthony Hopkins' Richard Nixon in Oliver Stone's biopic “Nixon.” He demonstrated his dramatic chops again in 2009, playing Nicolas Cage's father in Werner Herzog's gritty “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.” Recently, he played Bob Odenkirk's father in the AMC series “Lucky Hank.”
LOS ANGELES – OCT 07: Tom Bower arrives to the Netflix premiere of “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” Premiere on OCT 07, 2019 in Hollywood, CAIn Cooper's “Crazy Heart” (2009) and “Out of the Furnace” (2013), Bower captivated audiences alongside Jeff Bridges. With Harris, he featured in the critically acclaimed films “Pollock” (2000) and “Appaloosa” (2008).
In an unexpected plot twist in the CBS series created by Earl Hamner Jr., Bower's character, Curt, was presumed dead after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1978, only to reappear alive in Florida in a 1981 episode, now played by Scott Hylands. Bower discussed the surprising behind-the-scenes decisions that led to his character's dramatic return in a 2022 interview with Norton.
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“I asked for a very small raise, so they sent me to Pearl Harbor,” he explained. “Then, when they decided to bring the character back, washed up on a shore somewhere — which I didn’t think was a great idea anyway — I asked for the same small raise… They just cast a different actor.”
In the 1990 sequel “Die Hard 2”, Bower's character Marvin is a quirky janitor who resides in the basement of Dulles International Airport. Marvin, a big band music enthusiast, shared memorable scenes with Bruce Willis' character.
Bower was a passionate advocate for the Screen Actors Guild, firmly believing in fair representation for all actors, Bower's sister-in-law told The Hollywood Reporter. He was also a significant supporter of the Syracuse International Film Festival, championing the arts and film community. “He believed that all actors and all people should be represented in a way that was decent.” she said.
Bower's wife, Ursula, who was born in Germany and was a dedicated employee at a Los Angeles law firm for 40 years, passed away in August at the age of 75. The couple, married for 51 years, were inseparable, Miller noted, never spending a day apart.
LOS ANGELES – SEP 29: Tom Bower arrives at the 40th Anniversary of “The Waltons” Reunion at Wilshire Ebell Theatre on September 29, 2012 in Los Angeles, CABower's legacy is carried on by his family, including his children, Viv and Rob, and his grandchildren, Nicole, Jonathan, Lucille, and Henry. He is also survived by his brother, Bobby, and his sister, Shirley.
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