RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90
#1
Moderator
Thread Starter
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.
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.
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90
No!! He was an 80s icon!
RIP Mr. Futterman
RIP Mr. Futterman
#4
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.
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.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
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"
"They're ugly.....ugly people"
#8
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.
#9
DVD Talk Hero
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.
#10
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90
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.
#11
DVD Talk Hero
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.
#13
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.)
#14
Moderator
Thread Starter
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:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XVQKCBW
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XVQKCBW
#15
#18
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Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90
#19
DVD Talk Hero
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.
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.
#20
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
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?
Makes me wonder, did he have a starring role in anything else?
#21
Moderator
Re: RIP: Dick Miller (Gremlins) - Dead at 90
I couldn't have put it better myself. Exactly!
#23
DVD Talk Legend
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
#24
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
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/o...ller-dead.html