Peter Jason, Actor from ‘Deadwood’ and ‘NCIS,’ Passes Away at 80

Peter Jason, Veteran Character Actor from ‘Deadwood’ and ‘NCIS,’ Dies at 80

Veteran actor Peter Jason, best known for his role as Con Stapleton in HBO’s Deadwood, has passed away at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by actor Billy Zane, who shared a heartfelt tribute on Thursday, February 20.

“If there are no words, then there certainly is no music,” Zane wrote. “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.” He described Jason as a man whose presence was larger than life, adding, “His wake will be widely attended and teeter somewhere between a Friar’s Roast and a burial at sea befitting an admiral. See you on the back nine, my friend.”

Director John Carpenter, who frequently worked with Jason, also paid tribute. “Peter Jason, one of the great character actors in cinema, has died,” Carpenter wrote on X. “His first movie was Howard Hawks’ Rio Lobo. He was a dear friend, and I’ll miss him terribly.”

Born on July 22, 1944, in Hollywood, California, Jason’s career spanned nearly six decades, with over 250 film, television, and video game credits. His first role came in the 1967 TV movie A Bell for Adano, launching a prolific career that saw him appear in classics like Here Come the Brides, Gunsmoke, and The Karate Kid, where he played a soccer coach.

Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, Jason developed a close partnership with Carpenter, appearing in Prince of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), Village of the Damned (1995), and Escape from L.A. (1996). His ability to seamlessly blend into any role made him a fixture in Hollywood.

While Jason appeared in countless TV series, he was perhaps most beloved for his portrayal of Con Stapleton in Deadwood, a role he played across 26 episodes and reprised in the 2019 film. He also made memorable appearances in NCIS, Desperate Housewives, Arrested Development, Baskets, and many more.

Beyond film and television, Jason’s talents extended into voice acting, contributing to video games such as Gears of War 2 and Fallout 2. He even appeared in the music video for Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell II, further showcasing his versatility.

Peter Jason is survived by his wife, Eileen, and his children. His immense body of work and larger-than-life presence have left an indelible mark on the industry and the countless colleagues and fans who adored him.