Tom Bower death: The Waltons and Die Hard 2 star Tom Bower dies aged 86

Actor Tom Bower, known for Die Hard 2 and The Waltons, has died. He was 86.

Bower’s sister-in-law Mary Miller confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter the star died in his sleep at his Los Angeles home last week on May 30.

The actor was known for his performance in the 1990 action sequel to Die Hard.

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Bower played a janitor named Marvin in Die Hard 2 who helps Bruce Willis’ character John McClane stop the terrorists.

Before his role in the famed action epic, Bower had worked as an actor since the early ’70s with many film and television credentials to his name.

Bower had appeared in the likes of Kojak, The Blue Knight, Two-Minute Warning and The Rockford Files in the early to mid ’70s.

He booked one of his most memorable roles in 1975 as Dr. Curtis Willard in The Waltons.

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Bower starred on the series until 1978 when his character was killed off in Pearl Harbor.

“I asked for a very small raise, so they sent me to Pearl Harbor,” the actor told his co-star Judy Norton, who played his onscreen wife Mary Ellen Walton, in a 2022 interview.

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His character returned for an episode in 1981, but was recast.

In the same interview Bower also opened up about his “extensive” audition process for the show which didn’t involve reading with his scene partner Norton.

“I probably had to come back three or four times,” the actor said.

“The put me through the hurdles to get that job and I felt so very lucky to have gotten it. It was a perfect time for me to be a part of the show.”

After The Waltons, Bower continued to act for the next few decades right up until his most recent performance in the 2023 series Lucky Hank.

Over the years the actor landed roles in TV shows such as NYPD Blue, NCIS, Monk, The X-Files and Law & Order.

“Farewell Tom Bower. A face you were always glad to see pop up,” screenwriter Simon Underwood remembered the late star on X (formerly Twitter). 

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