Scarface Actor Harris Yulin Passed Away At 88

Harris Yulin, a veteran actor recognized for his strong screen presence and ability to play a wide range of roles, passed away at the age of 88. His family said that the actor died of a heart attack in New York City on June 10.

Yulin had a career that lasted more than 60 years and included more than 130 film and TV credits. He was praised for both the tragic and humorous parts. In Scarface, he portrayed the unscrupulous officer Mel Bernstein, and in Netflix’s Ozark, he played Buddy Dieker, a mob-connected guy with a questionable past.

A Versatile Force on Screen and Stage

Yulin’s talent wasn’t confined to the screen. He made his New York debut at 26 in James Saunders’ Next Time I’ll Sing to You, and later took the Broadway stage in productions like Watch on the Rhine, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Hedda Gabler. In 2010, he returned to the theater in Dublin, Ireland, playing Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.

On television, he delivered standout performances across genres. He had a chilling role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, comedic turns in Veep and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and a guest role as crime boss Jerome Belasco on Frasier, which earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1996.

Yulin’s Artistry Behind the Roles

At the time of his passing, Yulin was preparing to begin filming American Classic, a new MGM TV series. He was set to star alongside Kevin Kline and Laura Linney in the role of Linus Bean. Director Michael Hoffman paid tribute, calling Yulin “very simply one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered.”

Hoffman added: “His marriage of immense technique with an always fresh sense of discovery gave his work an immediacy and vitality and purity I’ve experienced nowhere else. And what he was as an actor, he was as a man—the grace, the humility, the generosity. All of us at American Classic have been blessed by our experience with him. He will always remain the beating heart of our show.”

Remembering a Quiet Giant

Yulin’s signature blend of gravitas and wit made him a go-to presence in films like Clear and Present Danger, Training Day, and Bean. Born in Los Angeles on November 5, 1937, he built a life in the arts filled with purpose, power, and passion.

He is survived by his wife Kristen Lowman, son-in-law Ted Mineo, nephew Martin Crane, and godchildren Marco and Lara Greenberg. His daughter, actress Claire Lucido, passed away in 2021. Harris Yulin may be gone, but his voice, presence, and performances will truly live on.