The Predator franchise can be great for its cloaked extraterrestrial hunters, heat vision, and violent jungle (or urban) battles—but equally so are the human characters who engaged in toe-to-toe combat with the Yautja. Though the creature can be the attraction on the billboard, it’s the human cast members—gallant, quirky, and tragically short-lived—who provide these films with heart.
Over the decades, some of the actors who made these characters unforgettable have passed on, but their impact on the franchise remains unshakable. Here’s a salute to eight of the most memorable Predator actors we’ve lost, counting down in true action-movie style.
8. Sylvia Kauders – Ruth Albright (Predator 2)
Her name might not ring a bell right away, but her scene? Unforgettable. As Ruth Albright, Sylvia Kauders had nothing but a broom to defend herself against a Predator in her apartment—a scene that still makes fans smile. Kauders didn’t begin acting in movies until she was 55, but she loaded her resume with appearances in The Sopranos, Inside Llewyn Davis, and more. She worked well into her 90s, with her final film being released mere months before she passed from a heart attack at age 94. Proof that one does not have to be the main character to make a big impact.
7. Morton Downey Jr. – Tony Pope (Predator 2)
Playing sleazy TV reporter Tony Pope, Morton Downey Jr. tapped into the same larger-than-life personality that made him infamous as a provocative talk show host. The part was almost meta—a boorish media figure portraying… a boorish media figure. Though he had a short career as an actor, Predator 2 was his highlight, solidifying him in franchise lore. He passed away at age 67 due to lung cancer and pneumonia, leaving behind a legacy as one of the loudest voices of late-’80s TV.
6. Lilyan Chauvin – Dr. Irene Edwards (Predator 2)
Lilyan Chauvin added elegance and brains to Dr. Irene Edwards, one of the few female characters with a speaking role in the early films. Beyond Predator 2, Chauvin’s career spanned from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to Friends, and she was an esteemed acting teacher at both UCLA and USC. She passed away at age 82 from congestive heart disease, but her legacy lives on through the numerous actors she taught.
5. Calvin Lockhart – King Willie (Predator 2)
Veteran of the stage and Blaxploitation star Calvin Lockhart provided King Willie, a voodoo gangster, with an aura of mystery and danger. His work ranged from Cotton Comes to Harlem to Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, across continents and genres. Although Predator 2 was criticized as being stereotypical, Lockhart himself was compelling on screen. He passed away from stroke complications at 72, leaving an indelible mark in both theater and film.
4. Bill Paxton – Detective Jerry Lambert (Predator 2)
The only actor in history to be killed by a Predator, a Xenomorph, and a Terminator, Bill Paxton brought humor and charm to Detective Jerry Lambert. Whether it was Aliens, Twister, Titanic, or Big Love, Paxton made every role pop. His Predator 2 performance turned a supporting cop role into one of the film’s most memorable parts. He died at 61 from a stroke after surgery, but remains one of sci-fi’s most beloved figures.
3. R.G. Armstrong – General Phillips (Predator)
R.G. Armstrong appeared in the Predator for a relatively brief moment, but that moment, as General Phillips, launched the entire narrative into motion. A workhorse character actor, Armstrong’s film career ranged from Westerns and horror pictures to a cameo in Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” music video. He passed away at 95 of natural causes, leaving behind four decades of iconic supporting roles.
2. Kevin Peter Hall – The Predator (Predator & Predator 2)
At 7’2″, Kevin Peter Hall was the Predator—literally. His performance provided the alien hunter with its ominous presence and characteristic movement, and the character became an instant icon. Hall also appeared as Harry in Harry and the Hendersons, demonstrating his versatility in bringing non-human creatures to life. He died all too soon at age 35 after receiving a blood transfusion that infected him with HIV, and then he died of AIDS-related pneumonia. Every Predator actor to follow has stood on his shoulders.
1. Carl Weathers – Colonel Al Dillon (Predator)
Carl Weathers was not only Dillon, but also a Hollywood icon. From Rocky’s Apollo Creed to The Mandalorian’s Greef Karga, Weathers exuded charm. His extravagant handshake with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator is meme royalty. Outside of action movies, he rocked in comedy (Happy Gilmore, Arrested Development) and even worked as a director. Weathers died peacefully at 76, his a legacy as an action powerhouse actor, sportsman, and all-around icon.
The Predator movies have always been more than monster flicks—these are tales of human determination, humor, and bravery against impossible circumstances. These performers are gone, but their work will never be off the hunt, living on each time fans press “play.”