Quantum Leap actor Dean Stockwell dies aged 85 as friends pay tribute to ‘rebel’ who loved career

Stockwell died on Sunday (Picture: WireImage, Getty Images)

Legendary actor Dean Stockwell has died at the age of 85.

Stockwell, best known for starring in Quantum Leap, died on Sunday morning from natural causes, a rep told TMZ.

Friends described Stockwell as a ‘rebel’ who loved his career, laughing, smoking cigars and playing golf, Deadline reports.

Leading tributes, filmmaker and journalist Bilge Ebiri tweeted: ‘RIP Dean Stockwell, a great actor who never met a scene he couldn’t steal.’

One fan said: ‘R

I think Dean Stockwell was probably the first actor I ever loved, he was just so goddamned suave on Quantum Leap.

“Then you get older and see him pop up all over and realize he was actually one of the greatest character actors of all time. What a legacy! RIP.’

Another added: ‘Rest in peace Dean Stockwell, an actor of wonderful range and versatility.’

Stockwell, here with Quantum Leap co-star Scott Bakula, was best known for playing Admiral Al Calavicci in the hit sci-fi (Picture: Getty Images)

Stockwell won two best actor awards at the Cannes Film Festival and a best supporting actor Oscar nomination (Picture: Getty Images)

The actor’s close friends described him as a ‘rebel’ (Picture: WireImage)

Stockwell’s career spanned 70 decades, beginning when he was just seven with a foray into Broadway.

He went on to become known for roles in films such as Anchors Aweigh alongside Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, Kim with Errol Flynn and controversial 1948 movie The Boy With The Green Hair. He also starred opposite Katherine Hepburn in Long Day’s Journey Into Night.

Between 2004 and 2009, Stockwell appeared in the Battlestar Galactica reboot as Brother Cavil.

Other roles included Blue Velvet, Paris and Texas and the original Dune, which was remade this year.

Stockwell won two best actor awards at the Cannes Film Festival and received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his role in the 1988 comedy-crime movie Married to the Mob.

The North Hollywood native became a household name with his iconic role as Admiral Al Calavicci in hit sci-fi TV series Quantum Leap, which he appeared in from 1989 to 1993.

More: US Showbiz news

In 2015, Stockwell retired from acting and began making art which he exhibited around the US under his full name Robert Dean Stockwell.

He is survived by his wife, Joy Stockwell, and their two children Austin and Sophie.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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