There are few actors who brought more electricity or magnetism to their roles than Harry Dean Stanton. In the over sixty years he had been working as an actor, Stanton has had one of the most solid resumes in Hollywood, having starred in such work as Paris, Texas, Repo Man, and Escape from New York. Though in many of his films he played supporting or side characters, Stanton’s charisma made him often outshine his fellow costars, prompting the late Roger Ebert to declare, “No movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton… in a supporting role can be altogether bad.”
Although many actors often have difficulty in maintaining their performances later in their careers, Stanton never lost his ability to deliver meaty roles. One of the highlights of the recent revival of Twin Peaks was to see Stanton return as his character of Carl, the manager of the Fat Trout Trailer Park. Although Stanton briefly played that role in Fire Walk With Me, creators David Lynch and Mark Frost gave Stanton a supporting role in the latest season that allowed the actor to demonstrate his prowess and emotional nuance. He will be missed.
