‘Primary Intuition,’ ‘S.W.A.T.’ star Denis Arndt useless at 86

Denis Arndt, the Tony Award-nominated actor whose many onscreen roles included starring in “S.W.A.T.” and famously interrogating Sharon Stone in “Primary Intuition,” has died. He was 86.

Arndt died “peacefully in his mattress” at his longtime cabin residence in Ashland, Oregon on Tuesday, his household introduced in an obituary revealed Wednesday.

“In his personal manner, Dad lived his life as a full and beneficiant efficiency, recognized for his unimaginable wit, appeal, insurgent spirit, irreverence, humorousness, grittiness, and keenness for his artwork,” Arndt’s household wrote.

“His legacy, each on and off stage, will dwell on within the hearts of household, associates, and neighborhood members,” they continued. “He was charming, good-looking, current within the second, spontaneous, and magnetic – a real Renaissance man.”

Veteran actor Denis Arndt has died on the age of 86. (Getty/TriStar /courtesy Everett Assortment)

Arndt was born in Issaquah, Washington on Feb. 23, 1939 – which his household famous was the identical 12 months that the traditional film “The Wizard of Oz,” was launched and pioneered the usage of Technicolor in cinema.

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“That was like Dad’s life,” his household wrote. “It began out in black and white and blossomed into a lifetime of coloration, brilliance, daring journey, and keenness.”

Arndt served as a U.S. Military helicopter pilot within the Vietnam Warfare and was awarded the Purple Coronary heart twice. After leaving the army, Arndt flew helicopters in Alaska earlier than transferring to Seattle, the place he launched his appearing profession after a buddy satisfied him to audition at a neighborhood theater.

“In fact, Dad acquired the principle position,” his household wrote. “And he was good. He carried his brilliance, ardour, and dedication into his second profession as an actor, each on stage and on display.”

Arndt’s household famous that he “spent a number of seasons on the Oregon Shakespeare Competition” in Ashland earlier than embarking on a profession in Hollywood.

Arndt’s household stated that he handed away peacefully at his Oregon residence. ( Noam Galai/WireImage)

The actor made his onscreen debut within the 1974 TV film “Runaway on Rogue River” and his early tv profession included visitor appearances in “The Surprise Years,” “Homicide, She Wrote” and “Life Goes On.”

Arndt performed the husband of Mary Tyler Moore’s titular character within the TV sequence “Annie McGuire” from 1988 to 1989. From 1990 to 1991, he had a recurring position in David E. Kelly’s “L.A. Legislation.” Kelley would later forged Arndt in a variety of his different authorized dramas together with “Picket Fences,” “Ally McBeal,” “The Follow” and “Boston Authorized.”

 “He has earned a standing ovation for the exceptional life he led,”

— Denis Arndt’s household

Certainly one of Arndt’s earliest movie roles was within the 1992 erotic thriller “Primary Intuition.” He portrayed Lieutenant Phillip Walker, one of many investigators who interrogated Sharon Stone’s character Catherine Tramell in certainly one of film’s most iconic scenes. 

From left: George Dzundza, Michael Douglas, Wayne Knight, Denis Arndt, Chelcie Ross, Sharon Stone in 1992’s “Primary Intuition.” (TriStar /courtesy Everett Assortment)

He appeared within the 1995 drama “How one can Make An American Quilt” and the 2001 sports activities drama “Undisputed.”

In 2003, Arndt starred as Sgt. Howard in “S.W.A.T.,” the motion thriller film primarily based on the Nineteen Seventies sequence of the identical identify.

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Along with his appearances in Kelley’s TV exhibits, Arndt’s later tv work included visitor roles in “Gray’s Anatomy,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Vanished,” “Supernatural” and “The Good Combat.”

Arndt is pictured throughout a visitor look in “Gray’s Anatomy.” (Richard Cartwright/Disney Normal Leisure Content material through Getty Photographs)

Arndt’s closing onscreen work included a 2018 visitor look on the TV present “How one can Get Away with Homicide” and a task within the 2023 brief movie “The Do-Over.”

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In his obituary, Arndt’s household wrote that he “reached the top of his profession” when he acquired a Tony Award nomination for his efficiency within the Broadway play “Heisenberg” in 2017.

Arndt’s household famous that they might maintain a non-public funeral service for the actor, including “in lieu of flowers, he would request you go seize life by the balls and comply with your ardour.”

The actor acquired a Tony Award nomination for his efficiency within the Broadway play “Heisenberg.” (Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

“As the ultimate curtain falls, we bid farewell to our Dad, understanding he has earned a standing ovation for the exceptional life he led,” the obituary concluded.

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Arndt is survived by his spouse of 45 years, Magee Downey, his seven youngsters and “many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren” in addition to his niece.