Ned Beatty: The Actor Behind One of the Most Sociable Killers in Cinema

Who is Ned Beatty?

Ned Beatty is a well-known actor and has been in more than 100 films; however, he’s probably best known for his portrayal of John Travolta’s boss at the beginning of “Pulp Fiction.” He also starred alongside other Hollywood legends such as Burt Reynolds. Ned was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1972 with “Deliverance” but lost to Jack Nicholson.

Beatty had done many acting roles before he got into film, including theater work, where he performed onstage since 1949 in one Broadway show or another every year from 1950 to 1965 except 1959 when he did two productions (one on Broadway, one touring). One reviewer called him “the most expressive face that ever appeared on stage.”

He was also a devoted father and had three sons. In 2010, his youngest son died of leukemia while Beatty’s wife battled breast cancer. Ned has said that this experience helped him empathize with characters in “The King’s Speech” after which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Beatty is among the last generation to have grown up without TV or computers, so when he talks about “old Hollywood,” from the 1930s through the 1960s, it encompasses almost all of film history before cable television even existed as we know it today! He fondly remembers seeing Cary Grant on Broadway during World War II (although they never met), and how there were no paparazzi or tabloids.

“Ned Beatty” is famous for what?

Ned Beatty is famous for playing Sheriff J.W. Pepper in the James Bond film “Live and Let Die.” He also played John Underhill, a socially awkward man who falls madly in love with Sally Field’s character Gwen on an episode of the TV series “Brothers,” which aired November 24th, 1986.

“The Thing Called Love” was another noteworthy role for Ned Beatty (playing Ben Peters), as well as his portrayal of real-life Elvis Presley manager Colonel Tom Parker opposite Kevin Costner’s version of Presley himself in the 1991 movie “Elvis & Nixon”.

Source: CNN.com

Nominated twice at the Academy Awards:

first for Best Supporting Actor for his appearance alongside Colin Firth and Bridget Jones in the 1994 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” (as Mr. Bennett), then for Best Actor for his role as Otis Blake, a janitor who finds out he has terminal cancer, in the 2003 movie “Monster.”

What are people saying about Ned Beatty?

Ned Beatty is widely recognized by fans worldwide because of his ability to play both friendly roles like Sheriff J.W. Pepper or John Underhill from “Brothers,” but also more sinister parts such as that of Ben Peters (“The Thing Called Love”), Colonel Tom Parker (“Elvis & Nixon”) or Otis Blake (“Monster”).

He was nominated twice at the Academy Awards: first for Best Supporting Actor for his appearance alongside Colin Firth and Bridget Jones (Bridget) from Pride And Prejudice, then for Best Actor with Michael Douglas playing Richard Gere role as John Reed who played Tom Parks from “The China Syndrome.”

Ned Beatty also has two Emmy nominations, the first for his role in The Day After Tomorrow (as President Thomas Wilson), then for a guest appearance on ER.

What is Ned Beatty’s favorite film?

While he played many parts over the course of his career, including heroic roles like Sheriff J.W. Pepper and John Underhill or more sinister ones as Ben Peters (“The Thing Called Love”), Colonel Tom Parker (“Elvis & Nixon”) or Otis Blake (“Monster”), one of Ned Beatty’s favorites was that of Howard Brubaker who appeared alongside Meryl Streep in Stephen Frears’ movie version with Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave called “Klute.”

Ned Beatty’s die?

Ned Beatty died from natural causes on Sunday morning in Los Angeles. Ned Beatty, who is remembered for movie roles in dramas Deliverance and Network.