Peter Jason,Karate KidandDeadwoodActor, Dies at 80

Mar. 15, 2025

Peter Jason on May 14, 2019.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Peter Jason, a beloved character actor who acted in film and television for over 50 years, has died. He was 80.

“Peter Jason, one of the great character actors in cinema, has died,” horror filmmakerJohn Carpenter, who cast Jason in a number of his movies, wrote on X on Feb. 20. “His first movie was Howard Hawks' RIO LOBO. He was a dear friend and I’ll miss him terribly.”

Billy Zanesimilarly took toInstagramto mourn Jason’s death late on Feb. 20. He shared a number of photos of Jason, including one of the actor posing on a golf course.

Peter Jason in Deadwood.HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection

HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Peter Jason on April 26, 2017.Amy Graves/WireImage

Amy Graves/WireImage

Other notable films Jason appeared in included 1984’s originalKarate Kid, 1990’sThe Hunt for Red October, 1995’sMortal Kombatand 2002’sAdaptation, among others. He held a supporting role in HBO’s mid-200s Western seriesDeadwoodas Con Stapleton, which he reprised in 2019’sDeadwood: The Movie. Video game fans will also recognize Jason as a voice actor in theGears of Warseries.

source: people.com