Frederic Forrest, the Oscar-nominated actor who played Chef in Apocalypse Now, died on June 23, 2023, at his home in Santa Monica, California. He was 86 years old. His death was announced by his former co-star Bette Midler, who called him a “remarkable actor and a brilliant human being”. But what was Frederic Forrest’s cause of death? How did he die?
A Long Illness
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Frederic Forrest died after a long illness. The exact nature of his illness was not disclosed, but it was known that he had been struggling with his health for a long time. In September 2022, his friends Helen Sanders and Barry Primus created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his caregiving expenses. They wrote that they needed to pay caregivers to be with him eight hours a day, seven days a week. They also thanked his fans and friends for their support and donations.
A Stellar Career
Frederic Forrest had a stellar career in film and television, spanning four decades. He made his film debut in When the Legends Die (1972), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. He went on to work with acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola on five films: The Conversation (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), One from the Heart (1982), Hammett (1982), and Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988). He received an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Huston Dyer in The Rose (1979), opposite Bette Midler. He also appeared in The Missouri Breaks (1976), The Two Jakes (1990), Falling Down (1993), and Trauma (1993), among others.
On television, he played Captain Richard Jenko on the first season of 21 Jump Street (1987), Blue Duck in the miniseries Lonesome Dove (1989), and Dashiell Hammett in Citizen Cohn (1992). His last screen appearance was in All the King’s Men (2006).
A Beloved Person
Frederic Forrest was not only a talented actor, but also a beloved person by his friends and colleagues. Many of them paid tribute to him on social media after his death. Francis Ford Coppola said that he was a “sweet, much-beloved person, a wonderful actor, and a good friend”. Mark Hamill expressed his sadness with a broken heart emoji. Helen Sanders wrote on his official Facebook page that he was “at peace” and thanked his fans for their messages.
Frederic Forrest will be remembered as one of the finest actors of his generation, who brought life and depth to every character he played. He will be missed by many. Rest in peace, Frederic Forrest.
