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John Beasley, best known to TV audiences for his role as Irv Harper on the beloved WB drama Everwood, has died. He was 79 years old.
Beasley died Tuesday in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. His son tells The Hollywood Reporter that he’d been undergoing tests on his liver before he took an unexpected turn for the worst.
His acting career began at the age of 45, with a recurring role on the short-lived ABC drama Brewster’s Place, opposite Oprah Winfrey. That was followed by guest turns on Early Edition, Millennium, Judging Amy and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
In 2002, he booked his first series-regular gig as the aforementioned Irv Harper on Everwood, which ran for four seasons and ended in 2006. In addition to his on-screen duties, Beasley served as the series’ narrator. (Read Treat Williams’ tribute here.)
Later on, he starred opposite Cedric the Entertainer and Niecy Nash on the TV Land sitcom The Soul Man, which wrapped its five-season run in 2016.
Additional TV credits included Boston Legal, CSI: Miami, Detroit 1-8-7, Harry’s Law, NCIS, The Resident, Treme and Your Honor. On the big screen, he appeared in such films as The Mighty Ducks, Rudy, The Sum of All Fears, Walking Tall and The Purge: Anarchy.
He made his final acting appearance in 2022’s Firestarter remake.
I’m so sorry to hear this. I loved him and his narrating on “Everwood.”
Agreed!
Miss everything about Everwood
oh dear, i’m so sorry to hear this. and he was finally going to make his broadway debut at 80 (!!) playing older noah in The Notebook. what a loss for the acting community, my best to his family.
So sad to hear this. I loved him on Everwood.
I remember him from Little Big League and CSI.
RIP
I’m sorry to hear this also. My condolences to the family. He was a great actor.
This hit me harder than I expected. I haven’t watched much of his work over the years, but he lives in my town. I’ve seen him several times at the grocery stores on the west side of town. He’s always very nice. He will stop and talk to anyone that approaches him. He was just a regular guy here that people looked up to. I just saw him about a month ago (maybe more) at Costco. He was talking to a woman who asked him if he had any projects coming up. I wish I could remember his exact response, but he said he did. I can’t recall if he said it was filmed and would be coming out or if he was going to be shooting something soon. I also can’t recall who he said he was working with but I do remember being impressed by the co-stars he named. It’s tragic to think that now he is gone. He was a bright light for our city and I will miss seeing him walk the aisles of the grocery store like an average Joe, never acting like he was any kind of celebrity or flaunting his career. He was a great man. This city will miss him :(
Thank you for sharing this. I live a world away but loved him on Everwood and he seemed like a nice man. RIP
You’re welcome. By all accounts that I’ve heard, he was a nice man. I talked to him once years ago but my memory sucks so I don’t even remember what I said. He was nice and courteous. I think I talked to him about food because we were in a grocery store. Lol. I vaguely recall the first time I saw him in the store, I was shocked and a bit starstruck. I didn’t know he lived here at that time. I mentioned it to someone working there and she told me that to everyone there he’s just John. He’s just a nice man going about his business but he always stops to talk with people that approach him. Not all celebrities are that humble and kind. John was.
R.I.P. Mr.John 🙏🙏🙏
Well damn. I only know him from Everwood. He was one of my favorites. Sad to see him go.
This gentleman was great in any role he played. Rest in peace.
So sorry to hear this, he was a great actor, I liked him in all movies, General’s daughter and Walking tall included, he was always so gentle and laid back, ya know? Wow! Condolences to his family.
Sigh. I miss Everwood. His narration was }chef’s kiss!{
.
Also, I cheered when he got to share a scene with Emily Vancamp in his episode of The Resident.
I’ve been doing an Everwood rewatch on Freevee this week. Having Irv do the voice overs was always such a soothing part of the show. Sad to hear the actor has now passed.
He was a good actor and will truly be missed,Rest in peace Mr Beasley!🙏