Movie star Billy Drago has died at the age of 73 following a stroke.
The actor — who mastered the role of the suave baddie — starred in gangster film "The Untouchables" and horror "The Hills Have Eyes."
He also featured in Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider" and played the demon Barbas on TV show "Charmed."
Drago was born William Eugene Burrows in Hugoton, Kansas, into a theatrical family.
His father was an actor and director while his mum was of Romani descent — and he took her maiden name for the stage.
Drago started out working as a stuntman before moving to New York to begin his acting career.
He first started landing roles in the late 1970s - appearing in films like "Cutter’s Way," "No Other Love" and "Windwalker."
Drago also made a living appearing on TV in guest roles for shows like "Hill Street Blues," "Moonlighting," "Walker Texas Ranger," "Trapper John, M.D." and "The X-Files."
He also appeared in the music video for the 2001 Michael Jackson song "You Rock My World."
Drago's actress wife Silvana Gallardo died in 2012.
He is survived by son Darren E Burrows — himself an actor who starred in the TV series "Northern Exposure."
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. Luke 11:21
"Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." -- George W. Bush
June 27, 2019, 08:19 AM
Ripley
The name didn't ring a bell, the face sure does. RIP Mr. Drago
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
June 27, 2019, 09:02 AM
0-0
Loved to hate him. R.I.P. Billy.
0-0
"OP is a troll" - Flashlightboy, 12/18/20
June 27, 2019, 09:27 AM
Sailor1911
"He's in the car"
RIP
Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark.
“If in winning a race, you lose the respect of your fellow competitors, then you have won nothing” - Paul Elvstrom "The Great Dane" 1928 - 2016
June 27, 2019, 10:05 AM
YellowJacket
"I said your friend died squealing like a stuck Irish pig."
I'm gonna vote for the funniest frog with the loudest croak on the highest log.
June 27, 2019, 11:09 AM
kkina
He was great as the hired gunslinger in Tremors 4. He obviously knew how to do it for real.
I didn't recognize the name but sure recognize the face. Sad to hear of his death.
I've enjoyed my time here, but tired of the whining and general management. Time to move on.
June 27, 2019, 12:25 PM
StarTraveler
R.I.P. Mr. Drago.
His favorite role for me was as the mysterious gang leader John Bly in "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr." As a time-traveling outlaw from the distant future trapped in the latter days of the nineteenth century, he was realy creepy in the role. I rewatched the entire series recently while writing a new Brisco story and was really taken by how well he stood opposite Bruce Campbell's Brisco character.
***
"Aut viam inveniam aut faciam (I will either find a way or make one)." -- Hannibal Barca
June 27, 2019, 04:14 PM
SIGMYSTER
R.I.P. Enjoyed his talented acting.
Don't count me out till you see the box go in the hole!
June 27, 2019, 04:41 PM
SSgt USMC/Vet
quote:
Originally posted by az4783054: I didn't recognize the name but sure recognize the face. Sad to hear of his death.
RIP
June 27, 2019, 05:52 PM
hberttmank
R.I.P Billy
"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock "If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley
June 27, 2019, 07:31 PM
parabellum
Drago in The X-Files episode, Theef.
I always loved that- "Poppin corn!"
For actors like Billy Drago, it's always hard for me to imagine them aging and dying. The man has 115 acting credits to his name, over a period of forty years. He was so present in films and TV for so long, it seems as if he should always be there, even though this defies logic. All we have to do is pop in a disc or click a link and there he is, in The Untouchables or whatever.
