Beau Starr

Beau Starr was born in Queens, New York City, on September 1, 1944.^[1][2] His younger brother is actor Mike Starr.^[3] Before Starr became an actor he was a professional football player known as Bill Starr.^[4] Primarily a tight end, he played university football at Hofstra and was signed by the New York Jets, on the taxi squad for 3 seasons, and later played in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.^[5]

In 1980, Starr acted in the play The Set-Up at the American Theater of Actors.^[6]

Starr's well-known television role was in the 1990s Canadian television series Due South as Lieutenant Harding Welsh of the Chicago Police Department. He also starred in the 1980s television series Rituals, Bizarre and True Blue. He has starred in several made-for-television movies, and appeared in a number of productions based in Canada, including Due South, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye and Doc as well as some advertisements.

His first feature film role was in the 1982 comedy film Hanky Panky with Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner. He also appeared in Carl Reiner's 1987 comedy Summer School, Martin Scorsese's hit 1990 crime drama Goodfellas as Henry Hill's father, and in the 2005 drama Cinderella Man. Starr made many guest appearances on television series, including T.J. Hooker, The A-Team, Knight Rider, Hill Street Blues, V: The Series, Hunter, Wings, The 4400, A Nero Wolfe Mystery and NYPD Blue.

Starr died at his home in Vancouver, Canada on April 24, 2026, at the age of 81.^[7]