TMZ reports that American actor Beau Starr, known for playing Sheriff Ben Meeker in “Halloween 4” and “Halloween 5,” has passed away. He was 81 years old.
TMZ confirmed the death through Beau’s brother Mike, who said he died of natural causes at his home in Vancouver. Mike described his brother as “a very unique and special person.”
Starr appeared as Sheriff Ben Meeker in 1988’s “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers,” and reprized the role a year later in “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers.” He also had a supporting role as the abusive father of Henry Hill, played by Ray Liotta, in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 gangster movie classic Goodfellas. His other film credits include “Fletch,” “Speed,” “Cinderella Man,” “Devil in a Blue Dress,” and “Born on July 4th.”
Beau began playing various characters on the Canadian sketch show Bizarre. He went on to appear in bit roles in popular series such as Psycho, Knight Rider, The A-Team, MacGyver, TJ Hooker, Three’s Company, Remington Steele, Fall Guys, Night Court, Matlock, Moonlighting, Murder She Wrote, and NYPD Blue.
Beau’s most important television role was in the BBC comedy series Due South, an odd couple detective show about a Canadian Mountie who teams up with Chicago police. The show aired for four seasons from 1994 to 1999. Beau appeared in all but one episode as Lieutenant Harding Welsh. Beau also starred in the NBC crime drama True Blue in 1989, which aired for one season of 12 episodes. In that show, he played another law enforcement officer, Lt. Bill Triplett.
