Harris Yulin, 'Scarface' and 'Ghostbusters II' actor, dies at 87: 'One of the greatest'
Harris Yulin, the Emmy-nominated actor known for his wide-ranging roles in films such as "Scarface," "Ghostbusters II" and "Clear and Present Danger," has died. He was 87.
Yulin died of cardiac arrest on June 10 in New York City, according to a press release shared by the actor's representative Sue Leibman. A memorial service is scheduled to be held at a later date.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Yulin was preparing to start production on the Michael Hoffman-directed series "American Classic," which was slated to star Yulin alongside Kevin Kline and Laura Linney.
"Harris Yulin was very simply one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered," Hoffman said in a statement. "His marriage of immense technique with an always fresh sense of discovery, gave his work an immediacy and vitality and purity I've experienced nowhere else.
"And what he was as an actor, he was as a man, the grace, the humility, the generosity. All of us at'American Classic'have been blessed by our experience with him. He will always remain the beating heart of our show."
A native of Los Angeles, Yulin got his showbiz start in the theater community of New York City, appearing in a 1963 production of the James Saunders play "Next Time I'll Sing to You." He made his Broadway debut in the '80s with the Lillian Hellman play "Watch on the Rhine" and went on to perform in other shows such as "The Price," "The Visit" and "Hedda Gabler."
In 2004, Yulin starred in a Chicago production of "Finishing the Picture," the final play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Arthur Miller. The actor also directed a number of plays himself, including "The Glass Menagerie," "The Trip to Bountiful" and "This Lime Tree Bower."
Yulin made his cinematic debut in 1970 with a starring role in the dark comedy "End of the Road." In the '80s, Yulin stretched his acting chops with roles in the gangster drama "Scarface" and adventure comedy "Ghostbusters II." The actor continued to switch things up in the '90s, appearing in the political thriller "Clear and Present Danger" and slapstick comedy "Bean."
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Yulin also lent his talents to the TV world with recurring roles in the series "Ozark," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and "Billions." He received a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1996 for his guest role on the sitcom "Frasier."
"Yulin was part of the vanguard of a generation who cared passionately about the craft of acting," a statement from Yulin's death announcement read. "This deep, lifelong dedication led to extraordinary, resonant performances that were a gift to audiences, the actors he worked with, and the art of acting itself."
Additionally, Yulin gave back to his fellow actors through teaching stints at The Juilliard School and Columbia University.
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Yulin is survived by his wife Kristen Lowman, son-in-law Ted Mineo, nephew Martin Crane, and godchildren Marco and Lara Greenberg.
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