Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Movie Talk
Reload this Page >

RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Community
Search
Movie Talk A Discussion area for everything movie related including films In The Theaters

RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-30-19, 07:11 PM
  #1  
Moderator
Thread Starter
 
dex14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 45,023
Likes: 0
Received 4,558 Likes on 3,093 Posts
RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Dick Miller, a prolific screen actor best known for his role as Murray Futterman in the 1984 classic horror film “Gremlins,” has died. He was 90.

With a career spanning more than 60 years, Miller has made hundreds of on screen appearances, beginning in the 1950s with legendary director and producer Roger Corman. It was then that he starred as Walter Paisley – a character the actor would reprise throughout his career – in the cult classic “A Bucket of Blood,” before going on to land roles on projects such as “The ‘Burbs,” “Fame” and “The Terminator.”

Miller also boasts a long history of high-profile director partnerships, working with the likes of James Cameron, Ernest Dickerson, Martin Scorsese, John Sayles and, perhaps most notably, Joe Dante, who used Miller in almost every project he helmed.

In one of Dante’s earlier films, “Piranha,” Miller played Buck Gardner, a small-time real estate agent who’s opening up a new resort on Lost River Lake. The only catch? A large school of genetically altered piranha have accidentally been released into the resort’s nearby rivers. Next up was a police chief role in the 1971 film “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” before reprising the Walter Paisely mantle as an occult bookshop owner in Dante’s 1981 horror film “The Howling.”

Other notable appearances include the 1986 cult favorite “Night of the Creeps,” where he shared the screen with Tom Atkins as a police ammunitions office named Walt – he supplies Atkins with some necessary firepower fin the face of an alien worm-zombie invasion – and a pawnshop owner in James Cameron’s 1984 hit “The Terminator; the same year he appeared in yet another of Dante’s films, “Gremlins.”

Most recently, Miller reprised the role of Walter Paisely for a final time as a rabbi in Eben McGarr’s horror film “Hanukkah.”

Miller is survived by his wife Lainie, daughter Barbara and granddaughter Autumn.
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/d...203124265/amp/
Old 01-30-19, 07:27 PM
  #2  
DVD Talk Hero
 
GoldenJCJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Colorado
Posts: 27,289
Received 3,194 Likes on 2,061 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

No!! He was an 80s icon!

RIP Mr. Futterman
Old 01-30-19, 08:05 PM
  #3  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,683
Received 650 Likes on 450 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

There's a documentary about his life called That Guy Dick Miller . It's available on Prime Video:

Amazon Amazon
Old 01-30-19, 08:36 PM
  #4  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Ash Ketchum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,627
Received 277 Likes on 212 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

I'm pretty sure the first movie I saw him in was Roger Corman's X- THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES (1963) and then a few years later in Corman's THE ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE (1967). What an incredible 60-odd year career he had.

For the TV on DVD challenge earlier this month, I watched an episode of "The Untouchables" in which he played gangster Dutch Schultz's right hand man.

Old 01-30-19, 09:05 PM
  #5  
DVD Talk Legend
 
islandclaws's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain
Posts: 20,085
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

One of my favorite character actors ever. I got to meet him once at a screening and he was such a genuine guy. Total legend.

Old 01-30-19, 09:13 PM
  #6  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 12,919
Received 947 Likes on 721 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

It just wasn't a Corman production till Dick Miller showed up. I loved his observation about the Ramones in Rock N Roll High School.

"They're ugly.....ugly people"
Old 01-30-19, 10:35 PM
  #7  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Pa
Posts: 11,956
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Damn ... for some reason I thought he died a while ago. Great actor.
Old 01-30-19, 10:53 PM
  #8  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,798
Received 44 Likes on 36 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Wasn't he a gun shop owner (not a pawn shop owner like the article states) in Terminator? Anyway, I really liked him in both Gremlins movies, The Burbs, and his small part in Twilight Zone the Movie. True 80s icon.
Old 01-31-19, 12:22 AM
  #9  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Josh-da-man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Bible Belt
Posts: 43,910
Received 2,725 Likes on 1,881 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90



Yes, he was in The Terminator. He was also the proprietor of the occult shop in The Howling.



Old 01-31-19, 01:57 AM
  #10  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Mondo Kane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,661
Received 112 Likes on 100 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Originally Posted by Ash Ketchum
For the TV on DVD challenge earlier this month, I watched an episode of "The Untouchables" in which he played gangster Dutch Schultz's right hand man.
And in my previous Exploitation Challenge, I last saw him in War of the Satellites. Probably his only heroic lead role. Even though we all loved him for the minor parts, I wish we could have seen him in more leads. I remember being greatly surprised how well he carried Bucket of Blood.
Old 01-31-19, 02:55 AM
  #11  
DVD Talk Hero
 
TomOpus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 40,141
Received 1,300 Likes on 944 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Just a couple nights ago, I was browsing around Pluto TV and clicked on Little Shop of Horrors just when Dick Miller was on screen. Any time he showed up in a movie, it felt like an old friend had arrived at a party.
Old 01-31-19, 06:08 AM
  #12  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,983
Likes: 0
Received 246 Likes on 175 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

If you haven't seen it, check out Not of This Earth. Miller as a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman is pure gold.
Old 01-31-19, 06:25 AM
  #13  
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
PatD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 0
Received 156 Likes on 96 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

He also wasn't too shabby on television. There was a 2-part episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine where he plays a worker at a concentration camp for homeless people. He had great chemistry with Avery Brooks. (The episode is called, "Past Tense", btw. Check it out.)
Old 01-31-19, 06:32 AM
  #14  
Moderator
Thread Starter
 
dex14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 45,023
Likes: 0
Received 4,558 Likes on 3,093 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Originally Posted by Jay G.
There's a documentary about his life called That Guy Dick Miller . It's available on Prime Video:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XVQKCBW
Thanks.
Old 01-31-19, 07:07 AM
  #15  
DVD Talk Legend
 
wishbone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,441
Likes: 0
Received 173 Likes on 121 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Originally Posted by TomOpus
Any time he showed up in a movie, it felt like an old friend had arrived at a party.


Indeed, one of the greats. Thanks Dick Miller.
Old 01-31-19, 07:10 AM
  #16  
DVD Talk Legend
 
wishbone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,441
Likes: 0
Received 173 Likes on 121 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Old 01-31-19, 07:11 AM
  #17  
DVD Talk Legend
 
wishbone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,441
Likes: 0
Received 173 Likes on 121 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Old 01-31-19, 09:24 AM
  #18  
Moderator
Thread Starter
 
dex14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 45,023
Likes: 0
Received 4,558 Likes on 3,093 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Old 01-31-19, 10:04 AM
  #19  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Why So Blu?'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 38,208
Received 1,191 Likes on 917 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

They had just celebrated his birthday at Dark Delicacies a few weeks ago. RIP

Oh, and he's featured in the deleted scenes of Pulp Fiction. He's Racquel's father who lets Winston Wolf use his garage to dispose of a headless body.
Old 01-31-19, 11:49 AM
  #20  
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 3,513
Received 149 Likes on 103 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Sad to hear this today, always love when he pops up in a movie. Probably gonna rewatch A Bucket of Blood in his honor.

Makes me wonder, did he have a starring role in anything else?
Old 01-31-19, 01:59 PM
  #21  
Moderator
 
story's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Hope.
Posts: 13,927
Received 1,899 Likes on 1,121 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Originally Posted by islandclaws
I got to meet him once at a screening and he was such a genuine guy. Total legend.
That's the sort of thing you hope to hear about your favorite performers.

Originally Posted by TomOpus
Any time he showed up in a movie, it felt like an old friend had arrived at a party.
I couldn't have put it better myself. Exactly!
Old 01-31-19, 02:47 PM
  #22  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Upright, in a cool, dry place
Posts: 4,465
Received 70 Likes on 47 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

RIP Walter Paisley!
Old 01-31-19, 03:09 PM
  #23  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Bluelitespecial's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 10,588
Received 417 Likes on 302 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Sad News, living to 90 is a very long life. I'll know him from Gremlins, The Burbs, and Chopping Mall. RIP
Old 02-06-19, 02:56 AM
  #24  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Ash Ketchum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,627
Received 277 Likes on 212 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

The New York Times finally did an obit for Miller:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/o...ller-dead.html
Old 02-06-19, 10:10 AM
  #25  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,666
Received 272 Likes on 201 Posts
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90

Will he merit a mention during the Oscars?


Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.