Allen Garfield, elite '70s character actor, dies at 80

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

NEW YORK (AP) — Allen Garfield, the veteran character actor who was a vital player in classic 1970s films like “The Conversation” and “Nashville,” has died. He was 80.

Garfield’s sister, Lois Goorwitz, said he died Tuesday in Los Angeles due to complications from COVID-19. Garfield had been a resident at the Motion Picture Television Fund Home, the industry retirement facility where several staffers and some residents have tested positive for the virus.

The Newark, New Jersey-born Garfield first set out as a boxer and a sportswriter. While covering sports for New Jersey’s Star-Ledger, he studied acting at night and was eventually taken in by the Actor’s Studio. There, he studied under Lee Strasberg.

Performing with naturalism and method-style commitment, Garfield found he could transfer journalism into acting.



FILE - This Sept. 24, 1984 file photo shows Allen Garfield at the screening for "Irreconcilable Differences" in Los Angeles. Garfield, the veteran character actor who was a vital player in classic 1970s films like “The Conversation” and “Nashville,” died Tuesday, April 7, 2020, in Los Angeles due to complications from COVID-19.. He was 80. (AP Photo/Scott Harms, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/5a44a6e857912a7c373e973fa936c74a

[Marthe48]

1. Losing icons, loved ones. Heart-breaking

I hope we can cope with the extent of the losses. It is already hard to take.

[edbermac]

2. Coppola made the Conversation between Godfather 1 and 2.

And it was nominated with #2 for Best Picture. Excellent film just as relevant now as it was back then.

Also remember him in a funny role in Mother Jugs and Speed.

RIP

[aggiesal]

4. He played the part of an abusive Chief of Police in Beverly Hills Cop 2 ...

[turbinetree]

3. Damnit............

Continental Divide Official Trailer #1 - Allen Garfield Movie (1981)

[IrishEyes]

5. I've never seen that film.

I will have to check it out.

[turbinetree]

6. Funny as hell.......................surprising romantic comedy ..............

[whistler162]

11. IMO.... his best film.

Kinda like John Candy and Only The Lonely. One really good film in a group of okay films.

[MustLoveBeagles]

14. It's very good

I haven't seen it in years. Not the sort of film you'd have expected John Belushi to do.

[Staph]

7. That's such a lovely film.

I never looked at John Belushi as anything but a sketch comedian until this film. But he showed that he could really act. Unfortunately, he only made one more film.

Allen Garfield plays a rare good-guy role in this film, using his birth name of Allen Goorwitz. He started as a journalist in real life, and played a newspaper editor in Continental Divide - a bit of typecasting!

[turbinetree]

8. Yepper spot on....................

[7wo7rees]

9. Saw The Conversation again yesterday.

Thanks Allen for your service. RIP

[link:

|

[Paladin]

10. First-rate character actor. RIP. (nt)

[Lord Ludd]

12. An early role as a purveyor of porn

With young Robert De Niro as the mark.

[JenniferJuniper]

13. I know he was no relation to John Garfield, but

Allen actually crossed by mind briefly yesterday when I listed to John Prine's "Late John Garfield Blues". I wondered if he was still around. RIP.

[MustLoveBeagles]

15. RIP

[GoneOffShore]

16. Sorry to hear this. There are going to be a lot of losses in retirement homes and care facilities

due to Covid19.
It's happened and is happening in Italy, France, and Spain.