One of cinema's most prolific and cherished character actors has died just short of his 89th birthday. M. Emmet Walsh, memorable in so many films including Blade Runner, Blood Simple and more recently, Knives Out, was 88 when he died on Tuesday.
Born in 1935 in Ogdensburg, New York, Walsh was raised in Vermont. He kicked off his acting career in typical fashion, with guest roles in TV series in the 1960s and 70s, but unlike some of his peers, he continued to juggle big and small screen gigs throughout his life. He had a personal credo about the work: "I approach each job thinking it might be my last, so it better be the best work possible. I want to be remembered as a working actor. I’m being paid for what I’d do for nothing."
Cinematically, he got his start via uncredited roles in the likes of Midnight Cowboy, and Stiletto and scored his first official credit in 1969's Alice's Restaurant.
His credits are too many to list in one article, but he'll be remembered for the likes of Serpico, Slap Shot, Ordinary People, Fletch, Blade Runner, Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, The Jerk, My Best Friend's Wedding, Critters and Knives Out. Walsh's speciality was taking smaller roles and making them absolutely his own.
He was also so reliable that film critic Roger Ebert coined the Stanton-Walsh Rule, which held that, “No movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad." While not an infallible pronouncement, we'd certainly recommend checking out anything which bears Walsh's name.
Knives Out director Rian Johnson was among those who shared a fond tribute to Walsh.
He is survived by his niece Meagan Walsh, nephew Kevin Walsh and grandnephews Emmet and Elliot.