Veteran actor James Sloyan, known for his roles in the Star Trek television franchise and the Academy Award winning film The Sting, has died at the age of 85.
The actor died on July 22 at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, surrounded by his family, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Sloyan enjoyed an extensive career spanning six decades across stage, television, film and commercials.
A statement released following his death paid tribute to his unique character. "Friends and colleagues remember him always present, always curious, courageous, inventive, loyal, as well as brash, mouthy and very urban," the statement read. "He was one-of-a-kind."
The statement added: "He is survived and deeply missed by Deirdre Lenihan his partner of 6 decades and their children Daniel, a musician and Samantha, an actor."
Star Trek and television appearances
Many television viewers know Sloyan from his multiple guest roles in the Star Trek universe. The science fiction franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry, dominated syndicated television throughout the 1990s.
Sloyan first appeared in a 1990 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The series, which starred Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, introduced a new crew exploring the galaxy on the starship Enterprise.
He later appeared on the spin-off series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. That show broke from franchise tradition by setting the action on a stationary space station rather than an exploring starship.
Sloyan subsequently returned for another appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and also secured a guest role on Star Trek: Voyager, the third live action series of the 1990s revival.
Despite his popularity as a guest star in the expansive Star Trek universe, Sloyan rarely gave interviews and never attended the fan conventions that attract thousands of the franchise's followers.
Beyond science fiction, Sloyan made guest appearances on several iconic primetime television shows. His credits include the police procedural Hawaii Five-O, the family sitcom Growing Pains, the action series MacGyver, the lifeguard drama Baywatch, and the paranormal investigation show The X-Files.
For two decades, television audiences also heard Sloyan without seeing his face. He served as the signature voiceover artist in commercials for Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota.
Success in major feature films
Film audiences will remember Sloyan for his role in the 1973 classic caper movie The Sting. The film starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford as a pair of professional grifters attempting to con a mob boss.
The Sting became one of the biggest critical and commercial hits of the 1970s. The picture grossed more than $250 million at the box office and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for George Roy Hill.
Sloyan played the character Mottola, a mobster working for the ruthless crime boss Doyle Lonnegan. The intimidating Lonnegan was played by the British actor Robert Shaw.
His next most notable film appearance came in the 1980 musical fantasy Xanadu. The movie, which starred the Australian singer Olivia Newton-John and the Hollywood dance legend Gene Kelly, has since gained a devoted cult following.
In Xanadu, Sloyan played Simpson, the overbearing boss of the male lead Sonny Malone. The character of Sonny was played by Michael Beck.
Early life and Broadway career
Sloyan was born in Indianapolis in 1941. He studied acting at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a performing arts conservatory with campuses in New York and Los Angeles.
He also served for three years in the United States Army. Following his military service, he began his professional career in the entertainment industry as an actor and fight choreographer with the New York Shakespeare Festival.
Sloyan eventually made his Broadway debut in 1969. He appeared in Arthur Kopit's play Indians, a production that examined the mythology of the American West.
He came from a talented family. His brother, Patrick Sloyan, was a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who famously exposed that American troops had died by friendly fire during the Gulf War. Patrick died in 2019 at the age of 82.
Fellow Star Trek actor passes away
The announcement of Sloyan's death comes just days after the revelation that his fellow Star Trek guest actor Gerrit Graham has also died.
Graham died last week at the age of 77 in an assisted living facility, according to a statement his wife provided to The Hollywood Reporter.
Graham starred in multiple films directed by Brian De Palma, including the 1974 musical horror comedy Phantom of the Paradise. His other notable film roles included the horror sequel Child's Play 2, the coming-of-age film My Girl 2, and the 1978 historical drama Pretty Baby, which starred Brooke Shields.
Like Sloyan, Graham was a familiar face to science fiction fans. He made memorable guest appearances on both Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager.
