The news of Peter Jason’s passing emerged on Friday, February 21.
The exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Veteran actor Peter Jason, known for his memorable roles across film and television for more than five decades, has passed away at the age of 80. The news of his passing emerged on Friday, February 21, though colleagues and collaborators had already begun paying tribute a day earlier. The exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed. John Carpenter, the legendary horror filmmaker who frequently cast Jason in his films, expressed his sorrow on social media. “Peter Jason, one of the great character actors in cinema, has died,” Carpenter wrote on X on February 20.
“His first movie was Howard Hawks’ RIO LOBO. He was a dear friend and I’ll miss him terribly,” Carpenter added. Take a look at the post here:
Peter Jason, one of the great character actors in cinema, has died. His first movie was Howard Hawks’ RIO LOBO. He was a dear friend and I’ll miss him terribly.— John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) February 20, 2025
Fellow actor Billy Zane also honoured Jason in a heartfelt Instagram post on the evening of February 20. He shared a series of photos, including a snapshot of Jason enjoying a day on the golf course.
“If there are no words then there certainly is no music. My dear, dear friend, the brightest light, most generous soul and gregarious of men, the supremely talented and kind Peter Jason has left the set,” Zane, 58, wrote in a poignant caption. “Survived by his lovely wife Eileen and his children, the vacuum felt by his passing gut punched me as I saw it coming. It had me spending the last two hours deciding between pieces of music to underscore this tribute that would either confuse, tickle or bore 1/2 of the viewers,” he wrote.
Zane continued, “They ranged from Spike Jones to Morricone. I couldn’t pick one so I chose none. All I know is his wake will be widely attended by and teeter somewhere between a Friar’s Roast to a burial at sea befitting an admiral. See you in the back 9 my friend! RIP PJ.”
With an impressive 267 acting credits on IMDb, Jason built an extraordinary career that began with 1967’s A Bell for Adano. He became a frequent collaborator of Carpenter, appearing in seven of his films, including Prince of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988), Body Bags (1993), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), Village of the Damned (1995), Escape from L.A. (1996) and Ghost of Mars (2001).
Beyond his work with Carpenter, Jason’s filmography boasts appearances in iconic movies such as The Karate Kid (1984), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Mortal Kombat (1995) and Adaptation (2002). He also had a recurring role as Con Stapleton in HBO’s acclaimed Western series Deadwood, a character he reprised in Deadwood: The Movie (2019). His talents extended to the world of gaming as well, lending his voice to the popular Gears of War series.
Peter Jason is survived by his wife, Eileen and his daughter, Robin Goldwasser.
