Al Matthews (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Al Matthews
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| Born |
Alexander Basil Matthews
November 21, 1942 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Died | September 22, 2018 (aged 75) |
| Occupation | Actor, singer, songwriter, United States Marine Sergeant |
| Years active | 1975–1997, 2011–2018 |
| Known for | Aliens (1986) |
| Awards | 13, including 2 Purple Hearts |
Alexander Basil Matthews (born November 21, 1942 – died September 22, 2018) was an American actor and singer. He was also a proud United States Marine. Many people remember him best for playing Gunnery Sergeant Apone in the 1986 movie Aliens.
He later voiced the same character for the video game Aliens: Colonial Marines in 2013. His character, Sergeant Apone, even inspired another famous character, Sgt. Avery Johnson, from the popular Halo franchise video games.
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Al Matthews' Military Service
Al Matthews was a brave member of the United States Marine Corps. He finished his training at Parris Island on May 25, 1966. He served his country during the Vietnam War.
He once shared on his website how proud he was of his time in the Marines. He spent six years serving in the military. He earned thirteen awards and decorations for his service. These included two Purple Heart medals, which are given to soldiers wounded in battle.
He was also the first Black Marine in the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam to be promoted to sergeant because of his excellent service.
Al Matthews' Acting and Music
After his military career, Al Matthews became a successful actor and singer. He appeared in many movies and TV shows.
His Famous Roles
One of his most well-known roles was Sergeant Apone in the science fiction movie Aliens (1986). He also played a fire chief in Superman III (1983). Later, he appeared as General Tudor in The Fifth Element (1997). He was also in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).
Besides movies, Al Matthews worked on British television. He played Sam Green, the father of Benny Green, in the show Grange Hill. He also performed in theater and on the radio. On the radio, he was both an actor for BBC Radio 4 and a presenter for BBC Radio 1 and Capital Radio.
His Music Career
In 1975, Al Matthews had a hit song called "Fool." It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in the fall of that year. This showed his talent as a singer.
His Final Years
Al Matthews passed away on September 22, 2018. He was found by a neighbor at his home in Orihuela, Spain. He was 75 years old. Reports from the area mentioned he had been dealing with serious health issues for some time.
See Also
