RIP Paul Lukather

RIP Paul Lukather

By Rick

March 16, 2015

Actor Paul Lukather only appeared in about 18 movies, but he managed 1st billing in the very Orlac-ian HANDS OF A STRANGER, 2nd billing in the oddly beloved DINOSAURUS, and was way down the cast list for FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER. He did much more TV work, including GEMINI MAN, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, THE INVADERS, GET SMART, MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., OUTER LIMITS, and SCIENCE FICTION THEATER. He also did a lot of voice work, including numerous video games.

He passed away October 9, 2014. I was just reading the latest edition of Equity News, the union newsletter, and saw his name in the "Final Curtain" listing of recent deaths of Equity members. No date was given and there's none at IMDb and a quick Googling turned up nothing else. He was born in 1926 in New York City, New York.

I've told this before, but this is the place for it.  In 1975, my then-girlfriend was in Denver, rehearsing a dinner theater comedy.  One night we were talking on the phone long-distance and she said she'd told this guy in the show that her boyfriend knew all about monster movies and horror movies. The guy told her he'd been in a monster movie but there was no way the boyfriend -- me -- would know it. I asked her what the guy's name was. She couldn't remember exactly, but said it was "Paul...Luther... Luker...something like that." I instantly said "Paul Lukather. He was in DINOSAURUS. Or he could be thinking of HANDS OF A STRANGER." The next day at rehearsal she told him that I'd immediately had known who he was and she named those two movies. She said his jaw dropped in amazement, then he got very serious and said, "you should be careful of that guy."

I got to meet him a few weeks later and we got on famously. He was amused and, I think, pleased that someone knew him and his movies. All in all, he was a very nice guy, and though I never saw him again, I remember him fondly. I'd hate to see him overlooked in these Final Farewells. 

Rest in Peace.

Born: 1926, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 10/9/2014, U.S.A.

Mohawk – 1956 (angry settler)

Drango – 1957 (Burke)

The Sheriff of Cochise (TV) – (Junior)

Have Gun – Will Travel (TV) – (The French Kid)

Buckskin (TV) – 1958 (Job)

Cheyenne (TV) – 1959 (Clemmie Martin)

Lawman (TV) – 1959 (Mack, Corporal Been)

The Restless Gun (TV) – 1959 (Randy Clayton)

Sugarfoot (TV) – 1959 (Mungo)

26 Men (TV) – 1959

Bonanza (TV) – 1960, 1965 (Robie, Cletus)

Rawhide (TV) – 1960 (Gus Price)

Bat Masterson (TV) – 1961 (lieutenant)

Laramie (TV) – 1963 (Park)

Alvarez Kelly – 1966 (Captain  Webster)
The Way West – 1967 (Mr. Turley)

Hot Lead and Cold Feet – 1978 (cowboy)