Actor John Quade Dead at 71

It seems like the somber news won’t let up. Another member of Hollywood has passed on to the other side. John Quade, an actor best known for playing the “heavy” in most of his films. According to the LATimes, he died in his sleep on Sunday at his home in California. He appeared in a slew of popular films and TV series, especially those of the Western variety. Let’s take a look back at the life and career of John Quade.

Quade was best known for starring in the Clint Eastwood films,  Every Which Way But Loose and its sequel Any Which Way You Can. He also had supporting roles in Papillon , The Sting, High Plains Drifter, and The Outlaw Josey Wales. One of his standout performances had to be the role of Sheriff Biggs in the 1977 miniseries Roots. Even though Quade played the bad guy in a lot of his films, those who knew him personally say he was the exact opposite in real life.

“He was one of the nicest men you’d ever want to know, but he looked mean and nasty,” his wife said. “He looked like he could do murder and mayhem at any moment, but he was a big teddy bear — the kind that he just loved little kids, but they were always afraid of him.

Quade is survived by his wife and six children, John Saunders IV, Joseph Saunders, Steven Saunders, Heather Clark, Katherine Adame and Rebecca Saunders; his mother, Norma; two brothers, Merlin and Robert; two sisters, Joyce Copeland and Norma Jean Anderson; and 10 grandchildren.

Are you familiar with John Quade’s work? What was your favorite role of his?