Sam Bottoms Dies: "Apocalypse Now" Actor Passes Away At 53

LOS ANGELES — Sam Bottoms, who had small but memorable roles in the 1970s classics "Apocalypse Now" and "The Last Picture Show," has died. He was 53. Bottoms, one of four actor-brothers, died Tuesday of brain cancer at his home in Los Angeles, wife Laura Bickford said.

In "Apocalypse Now," Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 Vietnam War epic, Bottoms played pro surfer-turned-soldier Lance B. Johnson, who takes to the waves amid bombs and bullets under the orders of the maniacal, surfing-mad Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore played by Robert Duvall.

"He was a handsome, tall young man and very sweet-natured and seemed to be right for that part," Coppola said Wednesday. "Sam was a good actor. Of course, he comes from a family that had a lot of theatrical activity."

In his 1971 film debut, a 15-year-old Bottoms starred alongside his best-known brother, Timothy, in "The Last Picture Show," playing a mute and mentally handicapped boy forced by friends to lose his virginity to a prostitute.

Sam Bottoms said he was in Texas to visit his brother, who was the film's lead, when director Peter Bogdanovich saw him and cast him in the part.

Brothers Joseph and Ben are also actors.

Sam Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara in 1955, the third of four sons of sculptor James "Bud" Bottoms. He began acting in local theater at age 10.

After his 1970s films, Sam Bottoms went on to appear in the Clint Eastwood westerns "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "Bronco Billy," and Coppola's 1987 Vietnam film "Gardens of Stone."

He more recently appeared in the films "Seabiscuit" and "Shopgirl."

He is survived by his three brothers, his parents and his wife.

Comments

[Topgun2]

Far too young to die.

[LMPE]

A great actor.

[1066]

I was always a fan, and I remember seeing him poolside at the Raleigh Hotel back in March, and he bravely lounged by the pool and swam with half his head shaved and a big scar covering the other half. I wish him and his family all the best.

[Tropiholic]

Oh that's very sad, rest in peace Sam, you went way too young.

[leeman79]

Apocalypse Now will always be remembered as one of the greatest films of all time. I can't think of anybody who could have played the L.B.J. role better. Thanks for accurately capturing the vietnam experience, Sam. PURPLE HAZE!

[Swerinjer2]

marijuana causes brain cancer.

[bigmamarosycheeks]

You know what? You may be wrong (www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006)and this is no place for that kind of talk. Have some manners.

[bigmamarosycheeks]

Here is the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729_pf.html

[blogattelle]

in that case I have 1.000

[drumz]

got any proof?

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Sam also had a very memorable role in The Outlaw Josey Wales. I always liked him as an actor. He was great in Apocalypse Now and The Last Picture Show.

Very sad news.

[Swerinjer2]

"After his 1970s films, Sam Bottoms went on to appear in the Clint Eastwood westerns "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "Bronco Billy," and Coppola's 1987 Vietnam film "Gardens of Stone.""

[mrblifil]

Oy god. My wife lost a cousin to brain tumor, he was in his forties with two kids. Hard to imagine a more shattering event, both for his wife and kids, and his own siblings and parents.

Hug those you love people, it doesn't last forever...

[Swerinjer2]

but it could last longer if you dont poison yourself with marijuana.

[elizaconnors]

Wow, you are a fruitcake. Go away!

[Tropiholic]

what the excuse for your psychosis swerin?

[TakLoufer]

Very sad news. I always thought he was the best-looking Bottoms brother; so adorable in Last Picture Show. Last thing I saw him in was playing (ironically) Maggie Gyllenhaal's creepy father in 'SherryBaby'.

[Uosdwis]

Oops, I should've read closer, they did list Tim, but I focused in on the one line "Joseph and Ben are also brothers."

[Uosdwis]

They didn't mention his other brother Timothy Bottoms from That's My Bush. Odd.

Also, I don't see a story yet on the death of Mrs. Star Trek, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, at 76 from leukemia. I don't think they told anybody of her illness (outside of family) so this was unexpected. A great Klingon death howl goes out for a true heroine to geeks everywhere!

[postman606]

You didn't read the story.

[jukesgrrl]

Thanks for mentioning about Mrs. Roddenberry. I didn't know. She was a class act.

[Illinoissuburbanvoter]

OMG! Didn't she play Lwaxana Troi and the voice of the computer on Star Trek TNG?

I just loved her!

RIP

[Progress08]

They mentioned Timothy. How Bogdanevich gave sam a role when he was visiting his brother on the set of The Last Picture Show.

[ChaiKat]

Back in the early 80's he was in a mini-series called East of Eden. I thought he was so fabulous in that. R.I.P Sam.

[topkatnc]

I thought he was good in East of Eden also. Was he in a movie about a soldier who lost his arms and legs and his ability to talk ?

[camb94]

That was his brother Timothy Bottoms. And the movie was "Johnny Got His Gun" about a WWI soldier, written by Dalton Trumbo

[JLRoberson]

It's a crime more don't remember that miniseries. It was pretty damn true to the book(at least the 6-hour version I've seen), it had a terrific cast, and it's very, very entertaining.

And Sam Bottoms, yes, kicks ass as Cal(and Timothy playing his dad, and they actually pull it off!), and plays him in a very complex way--he's almost like a dramatic version of Bart Simpson. He knows he does rotten things but he can't help doing them because of a sadistic streak that Bottoms doesn't soften. It's interesting to compare him here to James Dean and that other version, which I saw long, long after the ABC version. I had thought of that as THE version, and I was shocked when I saw this and saw that it only covered the last 1/16 of the book and gave no real basis for Cal to be as he was. (I was particularly shocked that Kazan's version seemed to think Aaron was the sadistic one) which is something that Sam Bottoms, by contrast, is able to deliver with the weight of the whole story implicit in everything he does, including the parallels of his own father & uncle's relationship, as well as the recurring Cain & Abel parallel theme that runs throughout. He could be nasty and evil, self-awarely so, and still stay likeable, and not diminish either. You feel for him AND hate him too. Neat trick.

Rest in peace, Sam.

[roch20]

Sad, very sad...!!!

[statestreet2424]

I remember in the documentary "Hearts of Darkness" about the "Apocalypse Now", he was very candid about the turbulent times during that shoot. I appreciate an actor who can just tell it like it is. I will make I a point to screen his work.
Rest in Peace, Sam.

[Forester]

Last Picture Show remains in my top 10 and was one of the best film adaptations I've ever seen. The Bottom brothers were so good, as were all the cast members. I really believed they were brothers only to find out later that they really were. Sorry for his family and friends to hear that he died.