John Heard (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Heard
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Heard in September 2010
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John Heard Jr.
March 7, 1946 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Died | July 21, 2017 (aged 71) Palo Alto, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Old South Cemetery, Ipswich, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–2017 |
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| Children | 3 |
John Heard Jr. (born March 7, 1946 – died July 21, 2017) was an American actor. He was known for playing many different roles in films and on TV. He became very famous for his role as Peter McCallister, the dad in the popular movies Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).
Heard also appeared in other successful films. These include Big (1988) and Beaches (1988). He also had a special guest role on the TV show The Sopranos in 1999. This role earned him a nomination for an Emmy Award, which is a big award for TV shows.
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Early Life and Education
John Heard was born on March 7, 1946, in Washington, D.C.. His mother, Helen, was involved in the arts and acted in local plays. His father, John Heard, worked for the Secretary of Defense.
John grew up with two sisters, Lise and Cordis, and a brother, Matthew. Cordis also became an actress. John went to Gonzaga College High School. He then studied at Clark University and Catholic University of America.
Acting Career Highlights
John Heard started his acting career in the 1970s. He performed on stage, in TV shows, and in movies. In 1974, he acted in a play called The Wager. The next year, he played Guildenstern in Hamlet in Central Park.
He won special awards called Obie Awards for his acting. These were for his performances in the plays Othello and Split in 1979–80. His first movie role was in Between the Lines in 1977.
Key Film Roles
In 1980, Heard appeared in the movie Heart Beat. He then played the main character, Alex Cutter, in the 1981 film Cutter's Way. Critics praised his performance in this movie.
He also acted in the 1982 remake of Cat People. In 1985, he was in the comedy-drama Heaven Help Us, where he played a monk. He also had a role in the movie After Hours that same year.
A big role for him was in Big (1988). He played Paul, a business rival to Tom Hanks's character. He also co-starred with Bette Midler in Beaches (1988). In 1990, he was in Awakenings with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. He also starred in Deceived (1991) with Goldie Hawn.
He played an FBI agent in The Pelican Brief (1993). Later, he appeared in the comedy film White Chicks (2004).
Home Alone and Sequel
In 1990, John Heard took on the role of Peter McCallister. This was Kevin's father in the hit comedy Home Alone. In the movie, Kevin (played by Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left behind when his family goes to France for Christmas.
Heard played the part of a concerned dad who misses his son. He also added funny moments to the role. The movie was a huge success. Heard played Peter McCallister again in the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Television Appearances
John Heard also had many roles on television. In 1979, he was in the TV miniseries The Scarlet Letter. He played a real-life leader, D. C. Stephenson, in the TV movie Cross of Fire (1989).
From 1995 to 1996, he played Roy Foltrigg in the TV series The Client. He also had a memorable role on The Sopranos as Detective Vin Makazian. This role earned him an Emmy nomination.
Heard also appeared on Battlestar Galactica. He had repeating roles on CSI: Miami and Prison Break. In Prison Break, he played Governor Frank Tancredi. He also played the mayor of Chicago in the TV series The Chicago Code.
Personal Life
John Heard had three children. He was married a few times during his life.
Death
John Heard passed away on July 21, 2017. He was 71 years old. He died from heart problems. He was found in a hotel in Palo Alto, California. He had recently had a minor back surgery, but this surgery was not related to his death. He was buried in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Awards and Honors
John Heard received several awards for his acting:
- 1977 Theatre World Award for his role in G.R. Point
- 1976–77 Obie Award, Best Performance, G.R. Point
- 1979–80 Obie Award, Best Performance, Othello and Split
- 1999 Emmy Award nomination, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (for The Sopranos)
In 2003, he was honored by his old school, Gonzaga College High School. He was added to their Theatre Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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John Heard in September 2010
See also
In Spanish: John Heard para niños
