R.I.P.: Earl Boen of The Terminator has passed away at 81

Character actor and voice actor Earl Boen had a long list of credits, working on nearly 300 different projects over the course of a career that began in 1974. But for most movie fans, Boen will always be remembered for playing the role of Dr. Peter Silberman in The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, T2 3-D: Battle Across Time, and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Sadly, it has been confirmed by Deadline that Boen passed away in Hawaii yesterday, January 5th, at the age of 81. A friend of Boen’s and his family revealed that Boen had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in the fall of 2022.

Born on August 4, 1941, Boen made his screen acting debut in a 1974 episode of the PBS series Great Performances. The many credits he racked up after that appearance include the films The Main Event, Battle Beyond the Stars, 9 to 5, Soggy Bottom USA, Airplane II: The Sequel, The Man with Two Brains, Walk Like a Man, 18 Again!, Miracle Mile, Alien Nation, My Stepmother Is an Alien, Chopper Chicks in Zombietown, Marked for Death, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, Norma Jean & Marilyn, The Dentist, and The Odd Couple II, as well as episodes of the TV shows What’s Happening!!, Kojak, Hawaii Five-O, Wonder Woman, Eight Is Enough, Barnaby Jones, The Jeffersons, The Dukes of Hazzard, Soap, M*A*S*H*, Barney Miller, The Powers of Matthew Star, Three’s Company, Fantasy Island, Benson, St. Elsewhere, Night Court, Family Ties, Remington Steele, Growing Pains, Silver Spoons, Punky Brewster, What’s Happening Now!, Hill Street Blues, Who’s the Boss?, Knots Landing, Dynasty, ALF, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Thirtysomething, Mama’s Family, Dallas, Webster, Murder She Wrote, Baywatch, Life Goes On, Tales from the Crypt, Seinfeld, The Wonder Years, Family Matters, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Herman’s Head, Santa Barbara, The Golden Girls, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, L.A. Law, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Empty Nest, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Ellen, Silk Stalkings, and more.

Boen had an incredible career – and that list doesn’t even take into account the fact that he was a very prolific voice actor. Many of his credits were on animated shows and video games.

Boen is survived by his wife Cathy, stepdaughter Ruby, and grandchildren Kimmy Abaricia and Kimo Harbin. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans.