Wings Hauser, Prolific Character Actor, Dies at 77

Actor Wings Hauser, who appeared in dozens of roles over the course of his career, has passed away. He was 77 years old.

The news of Hauser’s death was posted on his official Facebook account, sharing how he’d died in the arms of his wife, Cali Lili Hauser, with whom he’d been married since 2002. A cause of death was not mentioned in the post, which included an image of Wings and Cali with a dog by the sea.

“Movie icon Wings Hauser took flight in the arms of his film & music partner, Cali Lili Hauser at their studio this weekend,” the announcement stated. “Born in Hollywood, proud Academy member and prouder son of Academy Award winning writer, director, producer Dwight A. Hauser and loving mother Geraldine T. Hauser, Wings Hauser’s one of a kind, legendary career spanned 58 years in movies, TV & music working alongside many of the greatest artists in the industry and earning their respect. His recent and upcoming releases along with his living wish is handing the torch to the love of his life, Cali, requesting she continue the work embodying their partnership, their love story and honoring his legacy.”

The post continued, “Wings asks movie and music lovers in lieu of flowers or cards that they please show ongoing support for current and future projects by the award winning sustainable indie film and music studio, a sea-life and butterfly sanctuary hand-built by the Hausers (Cali Lili Indies) Cali Lili Indies Pictures Words Music In Motion FeMt0 Studi0 releasing social / environmental justice themed films and songs, as well as monarch butterflies and the source of both title and title track for an upcoming feature length documentary produced by La-La Land Records.”

Hauser made his feature film debut at 18 years old with a role in the 1967 film First to Fight. He spent most of his 20s acting sporadically while focusing his efforts mostly on folk music, and he’d later release an album for RCA called Your Love Keeps Me Off the Streets in 1975. This led to a role in the TV show Cannon, which helped get him back into acting and pursue the field much more seriously, bringing about dozens of movie and TV roles in the coming decades.

One of Hauser’s breakthrough roles was as Greg Foster on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. After joining the show in 1977, replacing previous actor Brian Kerwin, Hauser stayed on the series until 1981. However, Hauser reprised the role for a handful of episodes by making guest appearances in 2010. A man of many talents, Hauser also found further praise by playing Ramrod in 1982’s Vice Squad, in which he also wrote and performed the theme song, “Neon Slime.”

Hauser was once dubbed the “biggest star you’ve never heard of” by Entertainment Weekly in a story highlighting his many memorable roles. Some of his many film credits include Deadly Force, Mutant, A Soldier’s Story, The Wind, Tough Guys Don’t Dance, The Carpenter, Tales from the Hood, The Stone Angel, and Rubber. Other TV credits include Magnum, P.I., Perry Mason, The A-Team, Airwolf, The A-Team, Murder, She Wrote, Roseanne, JAG, House, Bones, The Mentalist, and Criminal Minds.

Additionally, the actor had also delved into writing. He wrote the story for the 1983 war movie Uncommon Valor, which starred Gene Hackman, Robert Stack, and Patrick Swayze. The film was a box office success.

Hauser was previously married to Margaret Boltinhouse, Cass Warner, and Nancy Locke. With Boltinhouse, he had one daughter, Bright Hauser, and with Sperling, he had a son, Cole Hauser, who has also become an actor known for his role in the hit TV show Yellowstone.

Source: Facebook