Terminator actor Earl Boen dies at 81: The Hollywood vet, who also appeared in Nutty Professor 2 and Naked Gun 3, passed away in Hawaii

  • Hollywood actor Earl Boen has died at the age of 81, it was shared on Friday 
  • A family member shared the actor passed away the day before while in Hawaii 
  • The actor was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in the fall, per Variety 
  • The star appeared in several installments of The Terminator franchise
  • Boen played criminal psychologist Dr Peter Silberman opposite Linda Hamilton 

By Heidi Parker For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Hollywood actor Earl Boen has died at the age of 81, it was shared on Friday.

A family member told TMZ the actor passed away the day before while in Hawaii. The cause of death was not shared with the outlet.

The actor was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in the fall of 2022, according to a friend of Boen’s, Variety reported. 

The star appeared in many installments of The Terminator franchise with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton - The Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003). He could also be seen in archive footage in Terminator: Dark Fate (2019).

Boen played criminal psychologist Dr Peter Silberman.

A sad loss: Hollywood actor Earl Boen has died at the age of 81, it was shared on Friday. Seen in Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991

A sad loss: Hollywood actor Earl Boen has died at the age of 81, it was shared on Friday. Seen in Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991 

And he is also known for his work in the films The Man With Two Brains in 1983 and Alien Nation in 1988.

Boen also popped up in the hit films Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult in 1994, and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps in 2000.

The New York native got his start in Hollywood in the late 1970s when he appeared on TV shows such as The Streets of San Francisco, Kojak, Wonder Woman and Eight Is Enough.

The first one: In this scene from the 1984 movie The Terminator he could be seen, right, interrogating Michael Biehn, left

The first one: In this scene from the 1984 movie The Terminator he could be seen, right, interrogating Michael Biehn, left

In the scene: The star appeared Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Boen played criminal psychologist Dr Peter Silberman. Seen with Linda Hamilton

In the scene: The star appeared Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Boen played criminal psychologist Dr Peter Silberman. Seen with Linda Hamilton

The big stars: Terminator 2: Judgment Day, from left, Arnold Schwarzenegger (as the T-800 Terminator), Edward Furlong (as John Connor) and Hamilton (as Sarah Connor)

The big stars: Terminator 2: Judgment Day, from left, Arnold Schwarzenegger (as the T-800 Terminator), Edward Furlong (as John Connor) and Hamilton (as Sarah Connor)

In 1980 he had a small role opposite Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda in the film 9 To 5.

He had a more steady role in the 1980s show Mama's Family where he played the Harper family's pastor, the Reverend Lloyd Meechum. 

In December 1985 he co-starred as Dr Marlen opposite Alan Thicke and Joanna Kerns on the successful show Growing Pains. The episode was named Standardized Test. 

In 1990 he played a Eulogist in the Pony Remark episode of Seinfeld.

Fun times: Seen in 1980 on It's A Living: (Clockwise) Boen, Louise Lasser, Paul Kreppel, Ann Jillian, Barrie Youngfellow, Marian Mercer, Gail Edwards

Fun times: Seen in 1980 on It's A Living: (Clockwise) Boen, Louise Lasser, Paul Kreppel, Ann Jillian, Barrie Youngfellow, Marian Mercer, Gail Edwards

One of his top hits: He could also be seen in a December 1980 episode of the series Soap

One of his top hits: He could also be seen in a December 1980 episode of the series Soap

After that he appeared as the 'Reverend' on The Golden Girls in the episodes Ebbtide's Revenge (1990) and One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest (1992).

In October 1991 he costarred with Jaleel White in the series Family Matters; the episode he appeared in was titled Words Hurt. 

Next he was seen on Ellen with Ellen DeGeneres (1996), and The Odd Couple II (1998).

A classic show: In December 1985 he played Dr Marlen opposite Alan Thicke and Joanna Kerns on the show Growing Pains. The episode was named Standardized Test

A classic show: In December 1985 he played Dr Marlen opposite Alan Thicke and Joanna Kerns on the show Growing Pains. The episode was named Standardized Test

Some other notable roles were playing Paulson on The West Wing episode of Manchester in 2001 and he also appearing as 'Grandpa' in Now You Know in 2002.

The versatile artist also worked as a voice actor.

The star voiced Mr. Bleakman in Clifford the Big Red Dog, Señor Senior Sr. in Kim Possible, the Narrator in World of Warcraft and Captain LeChuck in the Monkey Island video game series. 

Earl is survived by his wife, Cathy. His first wife, Carole, passed away in 2001.

Another hit show: In October 1991 he costarred with Jaleel White in the series Family Matters. The episode he appeared in was titled Words Hurt

Another hit show: In October 1991 he costarred with Jaleel White in the series Family Matters. The episode he appeared in was titled Words Hurt

HawaiiObituariesArnold Schwarzenegger

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