In 1988, masked slasher Michael Myers returned to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to find that there was a new sheriff in town, with Beau Starr taking on the role of Sheriff Ben Meeker in the 1988 slasher sequel Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, which happens to be my favorite sequel in the Halloween franchise. Starr reprised that role in Halloween 5 the following year – and honestly, I’ve always hoped we’d get the chance to see Starr as Meeker again someday, even though he appeared to be killed off at the end of 5. Sadly, it’s not to be. News came out over the weekend that Beau Starr has passed away at the age of 81.
Starr was a prolific character actor, racking up more than 130 screen acting credits beyond his work in the Halloween franchise. His younger brother Mike Starr is also a character actor, with his 240+ credits including Ed Wood, Dumb and Dumber, Uncle Buck, and Miller’s Crossing. It was Mike Starr who confirmed his brother’s passing to TMZ.
Mike Starr told TMZ, “Beau passed away on Friday, April 24 in Vancouver, Canada. He says Beau passed peacefully of natural causes. Mike says his brother was loved by many who knew him … calling him ‘very unique and special.’ He adds Beau and his other brothers helped raise him alongside his parents, and he was such a tremendous influence on his life.“
Born on September 1, 1944 in New York City, Beau Starr started out as an athlete. He was on the New York Jets practice squad in the late 1960s and spent two seasons in the Canadian Football League. Then, he made his screen acting debut playing “various characters” on the 1979-1986 TV series Bizarre. His first proper credit came on an episode of the 1981 TV series Seeing Things.
From there, Starr worked on the likes of T.J. Hooker, Cagney & Lacey, Three’s Company, The Powers of Matthew Star, Knight Rider, St. Elsewhere, Trapper John M.D., Hill Street Blues, V, Remington Steele, Fletch, The A-Team, MacGyver, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hollywood Vice Squad, The Fall Guy; Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling; Moonlighting, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Newhart, Summer School, Night Court, Highway to Heaven, Matlock, Relentless, Born of the Fourth of July, Jake and the Fatman, The Perfect Weapon, Dream On, Wings, Speed; Murder, She Wrote; Devil on a Blue Dress, Never Talk to Strangers, NYPD Blue, F/X: The Series, The Corruptor, Mean Streak, Cinderella Man, Masters of Horror, and Psych, among many other credits.
Outside of the Halloween franchise, Starr may be best known for playing Lieutenant Harding Welsh on 66 episodes of the 1994-1999 TV series Due South and playing Henry’s Father in GoodFellas.
Beau Starr is described as being “a son, brother, father, grandfather, actor, and NFL/CFL player.” Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans.