Gremlins and Terminator star Dick Miller dies aged 90
Written by News on 01/02/2019
Tributes are being paid to Dick Miller, star of ’80s classics such as Gremlins and The Terminator, who has died at the age of 90.
The actor rose to prominence playing Walter Paisley in cult classic A Bucket of Blood in 1959, a role he would reprise throughout his career.
Rather than being the star of the show in much of his work, it was his prolific appearances in scores of films that he was known for, in a career spanning more than 60 years.
His most famous role was that of Murray Futterman in Gremlins in 1984.
In 1984’s The Terminator, Miller played a gun store assistant who served Arnold Schwarzenegger’s title character.
Director Joe Dante, who worked with Miller on almost all of his films, including The Burbs and The Howling as well as Gremlins, paid tribute to a “dear friend” on Twitter.
He said he always looked out for roles for Miller “not just because he was my friend but because I loved watching him act”.
Roger Corman, who directed A Bucket Of Blood, also shared memories of his lifelong friend, saying he would “miss him greatly”.
“I will remember the brilliance of his acting talent, but more importantly his humanity and kindness as a friend,” he said.
Zach Galligan, who starred as Billy Peltzer in Gremlins, said Miller was a “great actor and an even better person” and had “taught this young actor so much”.
Fans are remembering Miller on social media, with photographs and clips from his films being shared.
Film critic Leonard Maltin was among those to pay tribute, saying that Miller’s “presence in a movie always brought a smile to my face”.
Renowned horror filmmaker and composer John Carpenter tweeted: “Rest in peace, Dick Miller. Terrific character actor.”
Edgar Wright, writer and director of films including Baby Driver, Hot Fuzz, and Shaun Of The Dead, echoed the sentiment, describing Miller as “surely the king of character actors”.
“A friendly, funny face in Gremlins (1&2), Piranha, the original Little Shop Of Horrors, Not Of This Earth, After Hours & my personal beatnik fav, Walter Paisley in ‘A Bucket Of Blood’. Any role of his was cult movie nirvana.”
Wright said the world owed Corman and Dante “for giving us so much Dick Miller goodness over the years”.
(c) Sky News 2019: Gremlins and Terminator star Dick Miller dies aged 90
