R.I.P. – Popular Character Actor and Return Of The Living Dead Star CLU GULAGHER Has Died!

We’re really sad to report that the veteran character actor and star of Return Of The Living Dead, CLU GULAGHER has passed away.

Gulagher passed away on Friday, August 5th, but the family waited until yesterday to report the passing. He died at 93 from natural causes.

Diane Goldner, Gulager’s daughter-in-law, also shared a family statement on Facebook confirming the news, saying that he died “surrounded by his loving family.”

“Clu was as caring as he was loyal and devoted to his craft, a proud member of the Cherokee nation, a rule-breaker, sharp and astute and on the side — always — of the oppressed. He was good-humored, an avid reader, tender and kind. Loud and dangerous,” reads the statement. “He was shocked that he lived, for even a day after Miriam Byrd-Nethery, the love of his life, died 18 years ago.”

Born William Martin Gulager in Holdenville, Okla. on Nov. 16, 1928. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1940s, Gulager attended Northeastern State University and later Baylor University before he started his acting career.

His acting career spanned seven decades in both film and Television roles. He was well-known for his Western roles on TV.

Just a sampling of his TV roles include Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series) 1959, Have Gun – Will Travel (TV Series) 1959, The Tall Man (TV Series) 1960, Wagon Train (TV Series) 1960, The Virginian (TV Series) 1963, Bonanza (TV Series) 1972, Mod Squad (TV Series) 1972, Kung Fu (TV Series) 1973, Cannon (TV Series) 1971-75, Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) 1976, CHiPs (TV Series) 1982, Knight Rider (TV Series) 1985, Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) 1987, Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series) 1995, and too many other great roles to mention here.

His film output was just as amazing, with roles in such films as The Killers 1964, The Last Picture Show 1971, McQ 1974, A Force Of One 1979, his final film was Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood 2019, and several others.

But it was his horror genre output that endeared him most to fans like us with roles in Mystery in Dracula’s Castle (TV Movie) 1973, The Initiation 1984, The Return of the Living Dead 1985, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge 1985, Hunter’s Blood 1986, From a Whisper to a Scream 1987, The Hidden 1987, Teen Vamp 1989, Puppet Master 5 (Video) 1994, Piranha 3DD 2012, Children of the Corn: Runaway (Video) 2018.

Also to note, Clu starred in Feast 2005, Feast II: Sloppy Seconds (Video) 2008, and Feast III: The Happy Finish (Video) 2009, which all three were directed by his filmmaker son John Gulager.

Gulager wed fellow actor Miriam Byrd-Nethery in 1960. The two remained married until Byrd-Nethery’s death in 2003. He is survived by his sons, John and Tom; their partners, Diane and Zoe; his cherished grandson Clu Mosha.

Clu Gulager appeared in so many film and TV shows that were a huge part of my life growing up and is one of those actors I really enjoyed watching on the screen. He will be missed.

Clu Gulager Born: November 16, 1928 – Died: August 5, 2022

Source: Variety