Anthony Gaidler, known for his work on “The Godfather Part III” and “Species,” died Saturday at a Los Angeles-area hospital. He was 65 years old.
His wife confirmed to TMZ that he went into cardiac arrest in May and was on life support for three weeks.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Anthony,” Gaidler’s wife, Valarie Anderson, said in a Facebook post shared Saturday. “We are devastated, taking each moment as it comes and trying to overcome the impossible. Please keep this everlasting light in your hearts and in our prayers for our family.”
The news was confirmed by Astara, a spiritual foundation for which Guidera volunteers, saying, “We are devastated and are cherishing each moment as it comes and trying to overcome the impossible.”
Gaidler made his film debut as bodyguard Anthony in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III (1990). He also had cameos in Baywatch (1993), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), and Valley of the Dolls (1994).
He won an MTV Movie Award for Best Kissing Scene with Natasha Henstridge for his role in Roger Donaldson’s Species (1995). He went on to appear in High Tide (1995), The Rock (1996), The Postman (1997), Armageddon (1998), Good News (1998), The Pretender (1999), and The Dead (1999). His last credits were appearances on “ER” (2001) and “LA Dicks” (2005).
Gaidla is survived by Anderson and his son, Nick; Guidera and Anderson were married for 20 years.
