Charles Cyphers, ‘Halloween’ Actor, Dies at 85

Charles Cyphers, best known for his role as Sherriff Leigh Brackett in the 1978 horror shashic Halloween has passed away after a brief illness. He was 85.

via: Daily Mail

His manager Chris Roe stated, 'Charles was a lovable and sensitive man. He always had the best stories, and you got a full performance while he told you.' 

Roe added that Cyphers, 'was a close friend and client on many years who will be dearly missed.'

His Halloween, The Fog and Assault on Precinct 13 co-star Nancy Kyes said, 'So sorry to hear about dear Chuck. My friend of many years, he could always be relied on for a kind word, a good laugh and a great story. How he will be missed.'

Cyphers was born July 28, 1939 in Niagara Falls, New York though he ultimately made his way out West, graduating from California State University - Los Angeles with a degree in theater arts.

He also studied at Los Angeles City College and also graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before starting his career.

His early work was in episodes of F.B.I. and Cannon before his first feature film, 1974's Truck Turner with Isaac Hayes and Yaphet Kotto.

After more guest-starring spots on The Secrets of Isis, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, he was cast in his first John Carpenter film, 1976's Assault on Precinct 13, playing prison bus driver Starker.

He returned to the small screen for the next two years, with roles in Gibbsville, Charlie's Angels, Roots, Wonder Woman, The Charlie Randall show and more.

He was also a series regular on the short-lived The Betty White Show in 1977 alongside White and John Hillerman, before Carpenter came calling again.

The director cast Cyphers as Sheriff Leigh Brackett in his horror classic Halloween, which is still considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made.

It is also among the most profitable films ever made, earning $70 million from a shoestring budget of just $300,000.

He became one of Carpenter's most regular performers, appearing in 1980's The Fog and 1981's Escape From New York and returning as Brackett in Halloween II.

Cyphers continued to bounce back and forth between TV and film, which guest-starring spots in Benson and The Quest in 1982, the year he also starred in the big screen sequel Death Wish II.

He primarily had guest starring roles throughout the 1980s on shows like Airwolf, The Dukes of Hazzard, Matlock, Dallas, Hill Street Blues, Night Court and Simon & Simon before returning to the big screen... in a lighter role.

He played long-suffering Cleveland Indians general manager Charlie Donovan in the 1989 baseball comedy classic Major League.

Cyphers continued working in guest spots throughout the 1990s and then landed a series regular role on Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher for both seasons.

He worked sparingly throughout the 200s, though he was brought back to play Leigh Brackett one last time in 2021's Halloween Kills.

RIP.