Deadline is reporting that actor Dean Stockwell passed on November 7 from natural causes. He was 85 years old.
Among sci-fi fans, Stockwell is best known for starring as Rear Admiral Albert “Al” Calavicci in Quantum Leap. Alongside Scott Bakula’s time travelling Dr. Sam Beckett, Stockwell’s Al served as a guide who appeared to Sam in the form of a hologram. Stockwell and Bakula headlined the series for five seasons from 1989 to 1993. However, that was just a single credit from Stockwell’s seven decade career in Hollywood.
Robert Dean Stockwell was born in 1936, and he got his start as a Broadway actor when he was seven years old. Stockwell broke into feature films in 1945 with roles in The Valley of Decision and Anchors Aweigh. The next year, he went on to co-star in The Green Years and worked steadily for decades.
In the early ’80s, Stockwell had guest roles in The A Team, Hart to Hart, Miami Vice, and Simon & Simon. He also had a resurgence on the big screen after appearing in Paris, Texas, David Lynch’s Dune and Blue Velvet, To Live and Die in L.A., and The Legend of Billie Jean.
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Following the end of Quantum Leap, Stockwell appeared in several sci-fi and genre projects. Stockwell provided the voice of Tim Drake in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. He also had a recurring role on the Battlestar Galactica reboot as Brother John Cavil. Additionally, Stockwell reunited with Bakula during guest appearances on Star Trek: Enterprise and NCIS: New Orleans.
Stockwell retired from acting in 2015 after 70 years in the industry. During his remaining years, Stockwell pursued his artistic career and exhibited his creations in galleries under his full name.
The Superhero Hype staff extends its condolences to Stockwell’s family, friends, and fans all over the world. Please feel free to share your favorite Dean Stockwell memories in the comment section below.
