Robert Swan dead at 78: Untouchables, Natural Born Killers and Backdraft star dies after battle with liver cancer
HOLLYWOOD actor Robert Swan has died at the age of 78.
The star – who appeared in The Untouchables and Hoosiers – passed away at home after a battle with liver cancer, his friend confirmed.
Swan was known for his roles in several hit films – most notably as a Mountie captain in Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables in 1987 with Kevin Costner and Sean Connery.
He also played Rollin Butcher in the 1986 basketball movie Hoosiers.
In 1994, the award-winning screenwriter starred in Oliver Stone and Quentin Tarantino’s Natural Born Killers as Deputy Napalatoni.
His other credits included the 1984 Emmy-nominated Jane Fonda-led TV movie The Dollmaker and 1992 sports film The Babe.
And in 1993, he reunited with Hoosiers director David Anspaugh to star in Rudy with Sean Astin.
Swan was also the founder of Harbor Country Opera and acted in a number of plays in Chicago, drawing critical acclaim.
His friend and neighbour Betty Hoeffner paid tribute to her “best friend”.
She told Fox News: “It was quietly in his sleep. He had been suffering from cancer and for a very, very, very, very long time.
“He was my best friend, he was a great actor, amazing producer, singer.”
She said Swan’s “dying wish” was to turn his screenplay about Samuel Johnson – the man who created the first modern dictionary – and turn it into a movie.
“I told him… when he got to the other side to get some spirits together and help me get somebody to turn this into a movie,” she said.
“I hope he gets the due he deserves because he was such a versatile actor and was a multi-talented human being.”
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