Alan Light/Wikimedia Commons

Oscar nominee and outstanding character actor Ned Beatty has passed away at the age of 83. Afterward, many throughout Hollywood remembered Beatty for his roles in hit films like Deliverance, Superman, and Toy Story was 83.

Rest In Peace Ned Beatty

New Line Cinema

Earlier this week, Ned Beatty’s manager, Deborah Miller, confirmed the sad news. She informed fans that the actor died of natural causes in his Los Angeles home, with friends and family by his side.

Beatty’s path to Hollywood all started way back in his childhood, believe it or not. He felt an instant connection to the stage and screen. “It was where people got down to their truest emotions and talked about things they didn’t talk about in everyday life,” he explained. “The preaching was very often theatrical.” While Beatty initially wanted to become a priest, his first movie changed him forever. He spent his childhood and teen years acting in school and going to theater camps in the summer.

Of course, one of Beatty’s earliest roles remains his most iconic: that of Bobby Trippe in the 1972 film, Deliverance. From there, the actor continued to star in hit after hit, in everything from Network and Superman to White Lightning and Toy Story 3. While the Oscar-nominated actor rarely played the main character, he didn’t mind much. In fact, Beatty said that playing the side parts gave him more freedom! “Stars never want to throw the audience a curveball, but my great joy is throwing curveballs,” he told The New York Times. “Being a star cuts down on your effectiveness as an actor because you become an identifiable part of a product and somewhat predictable. You have to mind your P’s and Q’s and nurture your fans. But I like to surprise the audience, to do the unexpected.”

In 2013, after acting in more than 150 movies, Beatty retired from the stage and screen. Now, after his passing, many of his co-stars and fans are remembering him fondly…

Remembered Fondly

Universal Pictures

One of the first to comment on Beatty’s passing was director Lee Unkrich, who directed the actor in Toy Story 3. “Just heard that Ned Beatty passed away in his sleep. It was a joy and and an incredible honor to work with him,” Unkrich tweeted. “Thanks, Ned, for bringing Lotso to life — both his good side and his not-so-good side. We’ll miss you.”

Meanwhile, actor Sean Astin, who starred alongside Beatty in the sports classic Rudy, also felt heartbroken. Ned put the class in working class.
This very cold night we talked about lots of stuff, mostly I remember him praising my Mom for her strength battling with her mental health,” Astin wrote. “His sweet soul remains.”

However, it was perhaps his publicist who put it best, in simple terms: “Ned was an iconic, legendary talent, as well as a dear friend, and he will be missed by us all.” Rest in peace, Ned Beatty. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Johnson, his eight children, and his grandchildren.