Paul D'Amato is dead. The actor inspired the look of the Wolverine character

D’Amato was born on October 2, 1949. At the age of fourteen, he started working as a stage attendant in a theater. In high school, he studied acting and was a member of the school hockey team. After graduation, he performed on stage.

In 1973 he appeared in an episode of… “Magnum Force”, the second film in the Dirty Harry series. In 1977, he was entrusted with the role of the antagonist in the comedy “On Ice” with Paul Newman, about an unlucky hockey team. He got the job because he could skate well. D’Amato’s distinctive hairstyle later served as a model for artist John Byrne when he was working on Wolverine for Marvel Comics.

“I was very nervous and excited at the same time,” he recalled of his first meeting with Newman. “The scene was simple and I quickly realized that being nervous was not a good excuse. So, like James Cagney would do, I stood in front of him, looked him in the eye and told him what I thought of him…. It worked out pretty well.” He later joked that his character included features of some of the worst NFL hockey players and a shark “Jaws”.

D’Amato later appeared in small roles in films “Heaven Can Wait”, “The Deer Hunter” and “Heaven’s Gate”. He also appeared on the small screen. He last appeared in front of the camera in 2009.

The actor died on February 19, 2024 after a four-year battle with the disease. Information about his death was provided by Marina Re, his life partner. In a post on her Facebook account, she called him “the light and love of her life.”

Paul D’Amato is dead. The actor inspired the look of the Wolverine character