Bo Hopkins, the star of American Graffiti, passed away at the age of 80.
The actor died of a heart attack at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Sian Eleanor Green, his wife, provided additional details about his death to the press.
His death was also reported on his website, which had the following message:
“It is with great sadness that we announce that Bo has passed away. Bo loved hearing from his fans from around the world and although he was unable to respond to every email over the last few years, he appreciated hearing from each and every one of you.”
William Hopkins was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1942. He changed his first name based on a character he played in the Broadway play, Bus Stop.
What was William Hopkins' Worth?
Bo Hopkins was estimated to be worth $3 million, according to data compiled from several media. Several newspapers, however, claim that his net worth is $66 million, which appears to be inaccurate. The actor had a long and successful career, lasting over 47 years.
Hopkins worked on projects from 1966 through roughly 2006, according to his IMDb page, after which the South Carolina native took a seven-year break. He returned to acting in 2013, and his most recent role was in 2020. In 1995, the actor was also awarded the Golden Boot.
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Bo Hopkins is most remembered for his roles in The Wild Bunch (1969), American Graffiti (1973), White Lightning (1973), and Midnight Express (1978).
Hopkins began his professional acting career in 1966 with the television series The Phyllis Diller Show, according to his IMDb profile. He appeared as a character named Chub in one episode.
Bo Hopkins has starred in nearly 131 films since then. His most recent film role was as Papaw in Ron Howard's upcoming thriller Hillbilly Elegy.
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Hopkins also contributed as a producer in 2003's murder thriller, Shade, starring Sylvester Stallone, Jamie Foxx, and Thandiwe Newton. The movie, which had a stated budget of $10 million, was a box office flop, grossing only $458,000 globally.
Glenn Close, who starred in the 1996 film 101 Dalmatians, rushed to Instagram after learning of Hopkins' passing to share her memories of working with him.
She shared a picture of them on set and wrote:
“It was a great privilege to work with Bo in HILLBILLY ELEGY. He was an actor to his core and put his heart into every take. He was a gentleman and a gentle man. He may have once, during his early days, around the time of AMERICAN GRAFFITI, been one of the bad boys, but I got acquainted and enjoyed the company of a man with a twinkle in his eye and the heart of a knight.”
Hopkins is survived by his wife, Sian, and their two children. Hopkins died in the presence of his wife, Sian.
