Ned Beatty, an actor whose illustrious career spanned over four decades and won him several accolades, including an Oscar nomination, died June 13 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 83. Beatty’s death was confirmed by his manager, Deborah Miller, who refused to provide details about the circumstances surrounding his passing.
Over six decades, Ned Beatty essayed the role of a supporting actor in more than 150 movies and television roles. Although the actor wasn’t popular for serving as the lead actor in movies, he was linked with some of the most renowned movies in Hollywood.
His acting stints include “All the President’s Men” (1976), “Superman” (1978), “Rudy” (1993), and “Back to School” (1986). Mr. Beatty also made several television appearances, which encompassed the role of Stanley Bolander, the detective known as “Big Man” on “Homicide: Life on the Street” from 1993 to 1995.
The actor also played the role of Ed Conner, the father of Don Conner on the television show “Roseanne.” Back in 1976, Ned Beatty was chosen by Sidney Lumet and Paddy Chayefsky to play the role of Arthur Jensen in “Network,” a satire masterpiece about the television network’s fluctuating ratings and a tube-focused nation.
In the popular scene of the show, Mr. Beatty was seen delivering a monologue with utmost perfection and esteemed eloquence. His role as Arthur Jensen earned him an Academy Award nomination for the category of the best supporting actor.
Ned Beatty was intrigued by the character ideation in “Mad as Hell: The Making of ‘Network’” and the Fateful Vision of the Angriest Man in Movies,” a book written by Dave Itzkoff in 2014. To convince filmmakers to offer him the role, Mr. Beatty admittedly told them he had a lucrative offer for another movie
The actor made his film debut with “Deliverance” in 1972, the adaptation of James Dickey’s novel about a friends’ disastrous canoeing trip in Georgia. Mr. Beatty’s character in the film is forced to strip naked and ‘squeal like a pig’ before being sexually assaulted-a heinous scene shown for the first time in big cinema and one that left an indelible impression on viewers and critics alike.
Born on July 6, 1937, Ned Beatty spent the earlier years of his acting career in theater, including eight years at the Arena Stage in Washington. In 2003 with The Times, he claimed to have spent nearly 13 to 15 hours on stage each year and over 300 days performing his roles.
According to his agency, the Shelter Entertainment Group, Ned Beatty had started his acting stints at an early age. “He started as a professional performer at age ten when he earned pocket money singing in gospel quartets and a barbershop,” said the agency.
His agency also said Mr. Beatty was surrounded by his family and close ones at the time of his death. He is survived by Sandra Johnson, his wife from 22 years of marriage, and eight children born from his previous three marriages
