Sad to report that Billy Chapin, who memorably starred opposite ROBERT MITCHUM in 1955's "
The Night of the Hunter," has passed away at the age of 72.
His sister, Lauren Chapin, reported his passing on her
Facebook page:
It is with a saddened heart that I say" Good Bye " to my precious
brother Billy Chapin, wonderful Star of Movies , Television and Radio.
He passed away last night after a long illness but now is in the arms of
his Savior.
Billy was a wonderful brother to both Michael and me.
And he made us proud of all the great films he was in: Night of the
Hunter, A Man Called Peter, Kid From Left Field, Tension at Table Rock, No
Business Like Show Business just to name a few! He will be greatly missed.
Lauren and her brother Michael were all successful child
actors during the 1940s and ’50s, according to
Variety.
Chapin's most famous role was in "The Night of the Hunter" as John Harper, who, along with his sister Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce) distrust their new stepfather, Rev. Harry Powell (Mitchum) with good reason: He's only after the money stolen by their late father (Peter Graves) in a hold-up.
The film was Charles Laughton's only directorial effort, one that has only gained in stature since its release.
My condolences to Chapin's family.
