Remembering the Departed Cast Members of the ‘Terminator’ Franchise

The ‘Terminator’ franchise remains a pillar of science fiction cinema since its debut in 1984 under the direction of filmmaker James Cameron. Over several decades the series has featured an array of talented performers who brought the war between humanity and Skynet to life across various timelines. While the legacy of these films continues with new iterations many actors from the original productions have passed away in recent years. This list honors the notable actors from the ‘Terminator’ movies who are no longer with us.

Norman Burton

Norman Burton appeared in ‘The Terminator’ as the gun shop clerk who unwittingly provides the T 800 with its primary arsenal of weapons. He was a veteran character actor known for his work in numerous television shows and high profile films throughout the late twentieth century. Burton passed away on November 29 2003 following a car accident in Ajijic Mexico at the age of eighty years old. His performance in the 1984 classic remains a memorable moment of early tension that showcased the cold efficiency of the cyborg. He left behind a long legacy of supporting roles in some of the most famous action movies of his era.

Paul Winfield

Paul Winfield portrayed Lieutenant Ed Traxler in the original ‘The Terminator’ where he investigated the string of Sarah Connor murders throughout Los Angeles. The Academy Award nominated actor brought a sense of gravitas and professional skepticism to the role of a police officer trying to solve an impossible crime. Winfield passed away on March 7 2004 due to a heart attack following a long struggle with obesity and diabetes. He was sixty four years old and left behind a distinguished legacy in film and television including his famous work in ‘Sounder’. His chemistry with Lance Henriksen provided a grounded human element to the science fiction narrative.

Joe Farago

Joe Farago appeared in ‘The Terminator’ as the news anchor who reports on the initial Sarah Connor murders occurring throughout the city. He was a familiar face in the industry often playing reporters or professional figures in various television shows and commercial advertisements. Farago passed away on September 11 2014 at the age of sixty four. The cause of his death was not widely publicized in major trade outlets at the time of his passing. His presence in the film added to the realistic media coverage that grounded the science fiction events in a believable reality.

Anton Yelchin

Anton Yelchin took on the iconic role of a young Kyle Reese in the 2009 prequel ‘Terminator Salvation’ opposite Christian Bale. He was widely praised for his ability to capture the intensity and vulnerability of a character originally played by Michael Biehn in the first film. Yelchin died on June 19 2016 at the age of twenty seven in a tragic freak accident at his home in California. He was pinned by his own vehicle in his driveway and the cause of death was cited as blunt traumatic asphyxia. His passing was a significant loss to the Hollywood community as he was considered one of the most promising actors of his generation.

Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton played the blue haired punk leader in the 1984 film ‘The Terminator’ marking one of his earliest collaborations with director James Cameron. He holds the unique distinction of being one of the only actors killed by a Terminator an Alien and a Predator on screen. Paxton passed away on February 25 2017 at the age of sixty one following complications from heart surgery. The official cause of death was a stroke that occurred eleven days after his medical procedure at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He is remembered as one of the most versatile and beloved character actors of his generation with a career spanning several blockbusters.

Dick Miller

Dick Miller had a brief but memorable role in ‘The Terminator’ as the pawn shop clerk who sells weapons to the T 800 during his hunt. He was a staple of genre cinema and a frequent collaborator with directors like Joe Dante and Roger Corman for over six decades. Miller died of natural causes on January 30 2019 at the age of ninety years old in Toluca Lake California. His career spanned over sixty years and included hundreds of credits in both film and television. Fans of the franchise recognize his scene as a pivotal moment in the characterization of the unstoppable cyborg assassin.

Franco Columbu

Franco Columbu appeared in ‘The Terminator’ during the future war dream sequence as the T 800 infiltrator who attacks the resistance bunker. He was a legendary bodybuilder and a two time Mr Olympia winner who shared a lifelong friendship with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Columbu passed away on August 29 2019 at the age of seventy eight after suffering a heart attack while swimming in his native Sardinia. He was instrumental in the physical preparation of many actors in the franchise and served as a consultant on various sets. His intimidating presence helped establish the terrifying efficiency of the Skynet machines in the early days of the series.

Leslie Hamilton Gearren

Leslie Hamilton Gearren provided a vital performance in ‘Terminator 2 Judgment Day’ as the double for her twin sister Linda Hamilton. She appeared in several key sequences including the iconic mirror scene and the climactic foundry battle where the T 1000 mimics Sarah Connor. Gearren passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on August 22 2020 at the age of sixty three. While she worked primarily as a nurse she remains a legendary part of the franchise history for her contribution to the groundbreaking visual effects. Her work allowed the production to achieve complex shots that were otherwise impossible before the widespread use of digital technology.

Earl Boen

Earl Boen was the only actor besides Arnold Schwarzenegger to appear in the first three films of the franchise portraying Dr Peter Silberman. He played the skeptical criminal psychologist who first encountered Kyle Reese and later Sarah Connor in a high security mental institution. Boen died on January 5 2023 in Hawaii after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer the previous autumn. He was eighty one years old and had largely retired from onscreen acting to focus on prolific voice work in his later years. His character provided a vital link between the shifting timelines and tones of the original trilogy of films.

Please share your favorite memories of these talented actors in the comments.