Angus MacInnes (27 October 1947 – 23 December 2024) was a Canadian actor of film and television.[1] He appeared in over 80 film and television productions between 1975 and 2016, but was best known for his roles as Jon "Dutch" Vander (Gold Leader) in Star Wars, and as former hockey great Jean "Rosey" LaRose in the cult comedy Strange Brew.
Angus MacInnes | |
|---|---|
 MacInnes in Star Wars (1977) | |
| Born | 27 October 1947 Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 23 December 2024 (aged 77) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–2016 |
Early life
editOf Scottish descent, MacInnes was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, the son of John and Kate MacInnes.[2][1] He graduated from the University of Windsor's drama program in 1971,[2] after which he moved to England on a scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the first Canadian to ever be admitted.[2]
Career
editMacInnes played supporting parts in a variety of British, Canadian, and American productions from the 1970s through the 2010s. He worked in repertory theatre before making his film debut in Rollerball (1975), playing the bodyguard of James Caan's character. MacInnes later credited the positive experience of working with director Norman Jewison with convincing him to pursue film acting full-time.[3] He said in a 2010 interview, "I spent a lot of time on set simply watching and learning. In one sense it was like doing a post grad crash course in the techniques and subtleties of acting for the camera. I fell in love with film work, it’s technical demands and creative possibilities."[3]
In 1977, MacInnes played arguably his best-known role, as Rebel pilot Jon "Dutch" Vander (Gold Leader) in the original Star Wars.[4][5] He remained closely identified with the part throughout the rest of his career, and was a fixture at Star Wars Celebration conventions and other fan events.[4][5] He reprised the part nearly 40 years later, through a mix of archive footage and newly recorded audio, in the Star Wars spin-off Rogue One (2016).[4][5]
MacInnes reunited with his Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford in two other films, as a US Army officer in Force 10 From Navarone (1978) and a corrupt cop in Witness (1985).
His other notable roles included gangster seeking stolen cocaine in Atlantic City, former hockey great Jean "Rosey" LaRose in the comedy Strange Brew, a detective in Hellbound: Hellraiser II, a Judge in the comic book adaptation Judge Dredd, a gateman in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, Sarge in Hellboy, a police captain in The Black Dahlia, and a Maersk Alabama crewman in Captain Phillips.[6] He also appeared on the BBC Scotland soap River City as Sonny Munro.
Personal life
editIn addition to his acting career, MacInnes ran a pizzeria, Mamma's American Pizza, in Edinburgh.[7] He had a wife, Katy, two children, and a granddaughter.[2]
Death
editFilmography
editFilm
edit- 1975: Rollerball as Jonathan's Guard (uncredited)
- 1977: Star Wars as Jon "Dutch" Vander (Gold Leader)
- 1978: Force 10 From Navarone as Lieutenant Doug Reynolds
- 1980: Nothing Personal as Military Policeman #2
- 1980: Atlantic City as Vinnie
- 1980: Superman II as The Warden
- 1981: Dirty Tricks as FBI Agent Jones
- 1981: Outland as Hughes
- 1982: If You Could See What I Hear as Policeman
- 1982: Murder by Phone as Laboratory Guard
- 1982: The Sender as Sheriff Prouty
- 1983: Strange Brew as Jean LaRose
- 1983: Spasms as Duncan Tyrone
- 1984: Best Revenge as Wayne
- 1985: Witness as "Fergie"
- 1986: Half Moon Street as Bill Rafferty
- 1988: Hellbound: Hellraiser II as Detective Bronson
- 1988: Honor Bound as Jessup
- 1989: Gross Anatomy as Dean Torrence
- 1990: The Krays as Palendri
- 1992: Spies Inc. as Vic
- 1995: Judge Dredd as Council Judge Gerald Silver
- 1999: Eyes Wide Shut as Gateman #1
- 1999: Operation Delta Force 4: Deep Fault as Professor Walter Hill
- 2000: Rhythm & Blues as Bad Daddy
- 2001: Enigma as Commander Hammerbeck
- 2001: The 51st State as "Pudsey" Smith, The Chemist
- 2002: Amen. as Tittman
- 2004: Hellboy as Sergeant Whitman
- 2005: The Jacket as Judge
- 2006: The Black Dahlia as Captain John Tierney (credited as Angus MacInnis)
- 2007: Flight of Fury as General Tom Barnes
- 2007: Dach as Security Guard
- 2013: Captain Phillips as Maersk Alabama Crew
- 2015: Elstree 1976 as himself
- 2016: Rogue One as Gold Leader Jon "Dutch" Vander (archive footage with newly recorded audio)[8]
Television
edit- Space: 1999 (1977) as Jelto (Season 2, episode Devil's Planet)
- The Littlest Hobo (aired March 27th, 1980) as a henchman (Season 1, episode 20, "Escape")
- The New Statesman (1988) as captain Hirsch (Season 1, episode 5)
- Space Island One (1998) as Lieutenant Commander Walter B. Shannon
- Vikings (2013) as Tostig
References
edit- ^ a b Salem, Zena (2 January 2025). "Windsor, Ont., actor known for role in Star Wars, dies at age 77". CBC News.
- ^ a b c d "Obit: Windsor-born Star Wars actor remembered for 'prolific' film career". windsorstar. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Angus MacInnes Interview", ''Star Wars Interviews'', September 2010
- ^ a b c d "Star Wars actor dies as tributes pour in for beloved star". LBC. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d Dunn, Jack (30 December 2024). "Angus MacInnes, Who Appeared in 'Star Wars', Dies at 77". Variety. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Carly (31 December 2024). "Angus MacInnes, 'Star Wars' Actor, Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ^ "About Us". Mamma's American Pizza. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ Fullerton, Huw (19 December 2016). "Rogue One: How X-wing pilot footage from Star Wars: A New Hope was used in the Star Wars anthology film". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2022.