Deadwood actor Peter Jason dies aged 80

Deadwood actor Peter Jason has died (Picture: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO)

Deadwood actor Peter Jason has died aged 80.

He had over 270 acting credits, including playing Con Stapleton in the Western series.

Jason’s first credited role was as an unnamed officer in 1967 movie A Bell for Adano, adapted from the novel of the same name by John Hersey.

He went on to hold roles in Here Come the Bridges and Gunsmoke, as well as playing a soccer coach in The Karate Kid.

In 1982, Jason had a leading role as Malcolm O’Keefe in horror Trick or Treats, and worked on several of John Carpenter’s films, including Prince of Darkness and Village of the Damned.

Jason also worked with director Walter Hill for several films, as well as Deadwood, including 48 Hrs.

He also appeared as Jeff in Desperate Housewives and in various episodes of Arrested Development, as well as NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Tributes have been paid from fans and friends alike (Picture: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)

His final credited role was in short film Tale of 2 Fathers, as well as We Are Gathered Here Today in 2022, which was filmed remotely over video calling services during the pandemic.

Carpenter led tributes to his ‘dear friend’, writing on X: ‘Peter Jason, one of the great character actors in cinema, has died.

‘His first movie was Howard Hawks’ RIO LOBO.

‘He was a dear friend and I’ll miss him terribly.’

Jason had hundreds of TV and film credits (Picture: Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock)

‘He was one of the actors I’d always point out in your movies. He was great in They Live,’ fan @Dave_Aklo replied.

@explosivo412 said: ‘He was incredible. Loved him on Deadwood as well. He seemed like the nicest of men and an absolutely fabulous actor.’

Jason’s cause of death has not been confirmed at the time of writing.

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