Art LaFleur , a longtime character actor who earned nearly 200 acting credits in high-profile television shows and movies over a nearly five-decade-long career, has died.
The noted actor passed on Wednesday of this week after a 10-year-long battle with Parkinson’ s Disease . He was 78 years old.
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LaFleur, who was well known for his roles in The Sandlot and Field of Dreams , among other high-profile films, was surrounded by family and loved ones at their home at the time of his death. According to his wife, Shelley , he was in good spirits, cracking jokes and trying to make his family laugh even as he was in his final days.
In a statement to the media, Shelley lauded her husband as “ a generous and selfless man. ” And while his acting career was exceptional, the grieving wife added (below):
“ … more importantly it was who he was for his family and friends. ”
LaFleur was an incredibly accomplished and talented character actor.
He infamously played baseball player Chick Gandil in Kevin Costner ‘ s Industry of Dreams in 1989. LaFleur then doubled down on his good favor within baseball flicks and portrayed Babe Ruth inside the classic 1993 coming-of-age baseball movie The Sandlot .
In addition to many other movie roles including work in The Blob , Cobra , several associated with the Santa Clause films, he also landed memorable television roles on Malcolm in the Middle , The Bernie Mac Show , JAG , and many other episodic productions.
Such a sad loss for Hollywood plus movie fans everywhere — in addition to, of course, his grieving family and loved ones.
Rest In Peace…
[Image via Nicky Nelson/ WENN ]
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