Stephen Hibbert, best known for his role as Gimp in Pulp Fiction, has died at the age of 68.
According to TMZ, the actor and writer died of a heart attack on Monday in Denver, Colorado.
Hibbert’s children, Greg, Ronnie and Rosalind, said in a statement to the magazine: “Our father, Stephen Hibbert, passed away unexpectedly this week. His life was filled with love and dedication to the arts and family. He will be missed by many.”
A representative for the actor did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Hibbert is best known for his role as Gimp in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 classic Pulp Fiction, starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman. His character had no dialogue and was covered in a leather bodysuit. Bruce Willis’ character had a memorable conflict with him.
Hibbert, who was born in Fleetwood, England, wrote for shows such as “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Mad TV” and “Boy Meets World” in the ’90s.
He also served as a script doctor for a number of iconic films, including “Shrek” and “Austin Powers,” and had a bit role in “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.”
In a 2024 interview with AARP, he said he met Tarantino at the famous improv group Groundlings Theater.
He was cast in “The Gimp” without speaking because he had no lines and was covered in leather. “Quentin and I acted out a master-slave scenario for a casting director. He intimidated me in the office and I cringed. I felt like I had been training my entire working life for the opportunity to audition for a role like that. Come on!”
He also recalled his sudden rise to fame after the film’s premiere. The actor said he received “24 messages” on his answering machine from men who said they “loved your acting” and “wanted to grab coffee.”
“Shit! These guys had to wait for the end credits to see who was playing The Gimp, then they found a pay phone and called LA 411 and stole my number. I immediately changed my number and made it private,” he joked.
However, he remembered his role fondly, stating that he considered it “one of the greatest films of all time” and a “great time capsule” of 90s LA.
From 1989 to 1994, Hibbert was married to Pulp Fiction actress Julia Sweeney.
In addition to screenwriting and acting, he also taught courses in film theory at the Denver Institute of Arts and improvisational theater at Denver’s Chaos Bloom Theater.
Hibbert has three children.
