Charles Hallahan Movies and Career Information

Charles John Hallahan (July 29, 1943 – November 25, 1997) was an American film, television and stage actor best known for his unforgettable and acclaimed performances in Going in Style, The Thing, and Dante's Peak. Hallahan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from Rutgers University, then going on to Temple University to earn a Master's degree in fine arts. During his acting career he was often cast as a police officer, and is possibly best known to TV viewers as LAPD Captain Charlie Devane on Hunter. He was memorable for his portrayal of the nameless "Coach" in Vision Quest, opposite Matthew Modine. His two most famous film roles, arguably, were as the doomed geologist Vance Norris in John Carpenter's The Thing and as the also-doomed vulcanologist Dr. Paul Dreyfus in Dante's Peak. Hallahan also co-starred as a regular cast member in two popular television series, Grace Under Fire and the long-running The Paper Chase. In 1997, Hallahan was cast as Liam Bilby in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Honor Among Thieves", but died of a sudden heart attack during production. Nick Tate agreed to assume the role in Hallahan's memory. Hallahan is buried in Cobh Harbor