Deadwood actor Peter Jason has died at the age of 80. Tributes have poured in for the star who is known for playing Con Stapleton. He enjoyed a successful career, starring in numerous films and TV shows, and accumulated over 270 acting credits. Director John Carpenter is among those paying tribute to Peter as he issued a social media statement.
"Peter Jason, one of the great character actors in cinema, has died," he said. "His first movie was Howard Hawks' RIO LOBO. He was a dear friend, and I'll miss him terribly." Peter had starred in several John Carpenter and Walter Hill directed films over the years. John had worked with the actor on movies including Prince of Darkness, They Live, Body Bags, In the Mouth of Madness, Village of the Damned, Escape from L.A., and Ghosts of Mars.
Peter also worked on The Karate Kid, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Congo, and Mortal Kombat. He started his acting career in 1967 for TV movie A Bell for Adano, which was an adaptation of the 1944 novel by John Hersey, and he played an unnamed duty officer. His last credited role was in A Tale of 2 Fathers, a short film directed by Douglas Spain.
Before taking part in what would become his final role, Peter appeared in We Are Gathered Here Today, a movie filmed remotely over video calling services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Peter was born on July 22 in 1944 in Hollywood, California. He grew up in Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach.
After graduating, he attended Orange Coast College and studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University. While studying, he began working on stage. His early TV appearances included episodes of dramas The F.B.I., Cimarron Strip, Judd for the Defense and Here Come the Brides in the late 1960s.
Peter also acted in plays and TV commercials throughout his long career. He sang in musical stage productions such as The Music Man, Stop the World, I Want to Get Off and Threepenny Opera. The actor also voiced Sergeant Dornan in the popular video game Fallout 2. Peter made his film debut in Howard Hawks’ final film, Rio Lobo, in 1970.
Some of his many TV show guest appearances included One Day at a Time, Starksy and Hutch, The Incredible Hulk, Cagney & Lacey, Remington Steele, The Golden Girls, Knots Landing, Roseanne, Coach, Arrested Development and NCIS. Tributes have poured in for Peter including from pal Matt Anser who said: "I am heartbroken.
"My dear friend and my father’s best friend, Peter Jason, passed away today. What a loss He was truly one of the sweetest people on the planet. My heart goes out to his wife and daughter. Peter, I hope you and my dad are up there laughing your a***s off." A fan added: "ah damn, RIP Peter Jason. loved him everytime he showed up in one of Carpenter’s films, especially Prince of Darkness and They Live.".
Someone else commented: "Peter Jason was a wonderful, kind, funny and charming man. The world has lost a bright light." A fourth wrote: "You know his face. He’s been in hundreds of movies and shows you’ve seen. Peter Jason. A true working man’s actor if there ever was one. A hero of mine, and once, he was even in one of my music videos! They don’t make ‘em like him anymore. Rest easy, my friend.".
