According to NBC News, we are sad and shocked to report that John Heard, the actor maybe most known for playing Peter McCallister, Kevin’s (Macaulay Culkin) dad in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), has died at the age of 71 for reasons unknown at this time. He passed away in Palo Alto, CA on July 21, 2017, a few days after receiving “minor back surgery.”
It’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of to be most recognized for the Home Alone films, the first of which was a critically and commercially successful Christmas movie written by John Hughes, nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes including Best Picture – Comedy. The two comedies offered memorable and hilarious to this day chemistry between Heard and his on-screen wife and partner, Kate, portrayed touchingly and hilariously by Catherine O’Hara. After all, the film is on TV every year at Christmas.
Besides the holiday heist films, Heard is also known for his roles like Paul in Big (1988) with Tom Hanks and Elizabeth Perkins, Dr. Kaufman in Awakenings (1990) with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, and John Pierce in Beaches (1988) with Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey.
As is the case with many other untimely performer deaths, John Heard had a few projects still in development. Last seen in the film Pray for Rain (2017) with Jane Seymour and the short film Graffiti (2016), Broome Street Boys and Imprisoned with Laurence Fishburne currently have no release dates attached, and The Tale (2017) with Laura Dern, Last Rampage (2017) with Heather Graham, and the horror film Living Among Us (2017) are all either completed or in post-production (filming is completed). It’s a good bet that Living Among Us will be Heard’s last film, but with the two films still without release dates, we cannot be sure what his last contribution to this industry will be.
Notable television show appearances include: NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-), MacGyver (2016-), Entourage (2004-11), Miami Vice (1984-90), Law & Order (1990-2010), Battlestar Galactica (2004-09), CSI: Miami (2002-12), and as Detective Vin Makazian in The Sopranos (1999-2007), for which, in the series’ first year, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest in a Drama Series in 1999. He was also nominated for a CableACE award for Actor in a Movie or Miniseries for the Tender is the Night (1985) miniseries.
Other notable film credits include: Sharknado (2013), Runner Runner (2013), The Guardian (2006), Pollock (2000), and Heaven Help Us (1985).
By the way, did Peter McCallister ever figure out where that gold tooth came from at the bottom of the stairs?
Rest in peace, John Heard. We look forward to revisiting one of your best characters this holiday season in two Christmas movies that will always make us laugh and touch our hearts. Thank you.
“Precious moments, special people, happy faces, I can see…”
