Harris Yulin Acclaimed ‘Ghostbusters II’ and Broadway Actor Dies at 87
Veteran actor Harris Yulin known for roles in Scarface Ghostbusters II Ozark and Broadway classics has died at 87 Explore his six-decade legacy in film TV and theater .
June 10 2025 – New York City – Harris Yulin the celebrated American actor renowned for his commanding presence across stage and screen passed away at age 87 due to cardiac arrest Known for his versatile performances in classics like Scarface Ghostbusters II and Ozark Yulin’s prolific career spanned over six decades and more than a hundred productions in film television and theater .
Early Life and Stage Foundations
Born on November 5 1937 in Los Angeles California Yulin studied drama reportedly at either UCLA or USC He launched his acting journey on the New York stage in 1963 with Next Time I’ll Sing to You His official Broadway debut came in 1980 with Watch on the Rhine From there his stage credits expanded to include prominent roles in The Diary of Anne Frank The Price Hedda Gabler and The Visit .
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In 2010 Yulin received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman at Dublin’s Gate Theatre showcasing his profound ability to capture layered characters with emotional depth .
Film Career – From Authority Figures to Comedic Turns
Yulin’s film breakthrough came in the 1970 movie End of the Road where he starred alongside James Earl Jones and Stacy Keach Over the years he earned recognition for roles in iconic films .
- Scarface 1983 – Played the corrupt cop Mel Bernstein .
- Ghostbusters II 1989 – Portrayed the infamous Judge Stephen The Hammer Wexler .
- Clear and Present Danger 1994 – Took on the role of National Security Advisor James Cutter .
He also appeared in Looking for Richard 1996 Bean 1997 The Hurricane 1999 Training Day 2001 and Rush Hour 2 2001 further cementing his status as a character actor capable of adapting to a wide range of genres .
Television Career and Recognition
Yulin thrived on the small screen as well appearing in several acclaimed series A guest role as Jerome Belasco on Frasier earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1996 He was praised for his haunting performance as Aamin Marritza in Star Trek Deep Space Nine’s episode Duet .
His other television roles included Roger Stanton in 24 Quentin Travers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and appearances on The X-Files Entourage Veep Billions and I Know This Much Is True From 2017 to 2018 he portrayed Buddy Dieker in Netflix’s Ozark a role that earned the ensemble cast a Screen Actors Guild nomination .
Educator Director and Mentor
Beyond acting Yulin was a passionate educator and director He taught at Juilliard and Columbia University shaping new generations of performers His directing credits included The Glass Menagerie and The Trip to Bountiful and he was honored with a Lucille Lortel Award for his directorial excellence .
Final Work and Legacy
At the time of his passing Yulin was set to reunite with Ozark co-star Laura Linney and Kevin Kline in MGM’s new series American Classic Director Michael Hoffman praised Yulin as one of the greatest artists he had ever worked with citing his immediacy and vitality on set .
Personal Life
Yulin was married to actress Gwen Welles until her death in 1993 and later to Kristen Lowman from 2005 onward He is survived by Lowman son-in-law Ted Mineo nephew Martin Crane and godchildren Marco and Lara Greenberg His colleagues remember him not only for his exceptional talent but for his warmth humility and mentorship .