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.”
In 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.
