He was one of the US actors whose face was better known than his name: Dean Stockwell. The “Back to the Past” star died on Sunday at the age of 85. According to media reports, it was a natural death.
Born in North Hollywood in 1936, Stockwell was already filming with super stars like Gregory Peck at the tender age of nine and managed to stay well in the film business well into old age. In 1985 he decided to only work as an artist.
Even if he did a holography at the side of Dr. Samuel “Sam” Beckett (played by Scott Bakula) played in the sci-fi series “Back to the Past” (English. Quantum Leap), he was not committed to that role. Well-known directors such as David Lynch (“Blue Velvet”) and Wim Wenders (“Paris Texas”) brought him in front of their camera.
Dean Stockwell (left) in 1989 with his “Back to the Past” colleague Scott BakulaPhoto: Getty Images
For his work, which includes more than 200 productions, the versatile actor has won prizes such as the Golden Globe Award (e.g. 1990 for “Back to the Past”) up to an Oscar nomination in 1988 for best supporting actor in the film “The Mafiosi Bride “.
Stockwell leaves a wife with two grown children.