Acclaimed character actor Harris Yulin, best known for his memorable roles in Scarface, Training Day, and Netflix’s Ozark, has died at the age of 87. His family and longtime manager, Sue Leibman, confirmed he passed away Tuesday due to cardiac arrest in New York City.

Yulin’s career spanned over five decades across film, television, and theater. While he may never have been a household name, he was a familiar and respected presence in Hollywood, known for bringing depth and complexity to supporting roles.

Born in Los Angeles on November 5, 1937, Yulin had a difficult start in life abandoned as an infant and later adopted by a Russian-Jewish family who raised him. He credited his bar mitzvah as the moment he was inspired to pursue acting.

Standout performances

Yulin’s film legacy includes standout performances as the corrupt Miami detective in Brian De Palma’s Scarface (1983), the national security adviser opposite Harrison Ford in Clear and Present Danger (1994), and the dirty cop Rosselli in Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day (2001). He also delivered lighter turns in films like Ghostbusters II (1989) and Multiplicity (1996).

On television, Yulin earned an Emmy nomination in 1996 for his guest role on Frasier, and later appeared in shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 24, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Ozark, where he played the quirky but tough Buddy Dieker.

A seasoned stage actor, Yulin graced Broadway six times, with roles in The Diary of Anne Frank (1997) and Hedda Gabler (2001), and directed multiple productions off-Broadway and internationally, including The Trip to Bountiful and Don Juan in Hell.

Despite his prolific output, Yulin remained modest about his fame. In a 2010 interview, he remarked, “I’m not that high-profile. I just do the next thing that comes along.”

Harris Yulin leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable characters and performances that spanned generations. He is remembered not just for his acting talent, but for the enduring impact he made on stage and screen.

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