Sad news emerged from the entertainment world this weekend when it was learned that Frederic Forrest, renowned character actor who appeared in such memorable features as Apocalypse Now and The Rose, died at the age of 86, as the Hollywood Reporter revealed.

The actor's death following an extended illness was confirmed to the outlet by his friend and fellow thespian, Barry Primus.

Prolific career

Though perhaps most recognizable to cinema fans for his portrayals of Chef Hicks in Apocalypse Now and Huston Dyer, love interest to Bette Midler's character in The Rose, Forrest enjoyed a lengthy list of Hollywood credits that spanned decades.

Not typically seen in leading roles, Forrest carved a niche for himself with his acclaimed performances in a host of noteworthy productions, including Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation, also appearing in Tucker: The Man and His Dream.

Forrest also racked up considerable screen time in films such as The Two Jakes, Lassie, The Quality of Light, and Point Blank, among many others.

The final big screen role undertaken by Forrest came alongside Jude Law and Sean Penn in a 2006 reworking of All the King's Men, as the Hollywood Reporter further noted.

Small-screen acclaim

Forrest's career was not limited to feature films, as he also built a reputation for delivering reliably gripping portrayals on the small screen.

Of particular note was Forrest's depiction of the title character in Larry, a 1974 television movie that told the true story of a man who was placed into a mental institution as the result of an erroneous diagnosis.

The actor was also praised for his roles in 1985's Quo Vadis, the Lonesome Dove miniseries from 1989, and in several episodes of the first season of 21 Jump Street.

Despite a widespread industry perception that an Emmy Award for Forrest was essentially a foregone conclusion, as time continued to pass without such an honor, the actor downplayed its relevance. “They told me to hire a public relations firm to try to get an Emmy. There was no way I could do that. It goes against my grain to buy ads. I don't want to buy a prize. I want someone to give me one. Who wants a prize if you have to hustle it?”

“At peace”

Though few details were released regarding the lengthy illness that ultimately claimed Forrest's life, it was just last fall that friends of the actor established two GoFundMe pages to raise funds to help pay expenses related to his care.

Those proceeds appeared to have been successful in allowing Forrest to remain in his Santa Monica home until the time of his death, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Among those paying tribute to Forrest was Bette Midler, with whom he starred in The Rose, and she took to Twitter on Friday to announce his passing, adding that he was “a remarkable actor, and a brilliant human being” and declaring herself “lucky to have him in [her] life.”

Concluding with a few words sure to give solace to Forrest's millions of fans around the world, Midler remarked, “He was at peace.”