Every Major Actor From ‘Indiana Jones’ Movies Who Died

The ‘Indiana Jones’ films stretch across generations, which also means many familiar faces from the series are no longer with us. This roundup brings together the major actors from the movies who have passed away, with a quick look at the characters they played and when they died.

For each person you will see the character name and the ‘Indiana Jones’ titles they are linked to, along with verified details about their passing and a brief note on their larger body of work. The goal is simple and useful, so you can quickly connect the names you remember on screen with the lives and careers behind them.

Sean Connery

Connery portrayed Indy’s father in ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ and is referenced in ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’. He died on October 31, 2020 in the Bahamas at age 90. His death certificate listed heart failure and pneumonia, and his family later shared that he had been living with dementia.

Beyond the series he was known worldwide for originating James Bond on film and won an Academy Award for ‘The Untouchables’. His career also included ‘The Hunt for Red October’ and ‘Highlander’, and he received a knighthood for services to drama.

River Phoenix

Phoenix played the teenage Indy in the opening of ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’. He died on October 31, 1993 in West Hollywood at age 23 from a drug overdose.

He earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Running on Empty’ and starred in ‘Stand by Me’ and ‘My Own Private Idaho’. His death led to unfinished projects and a lasting conversation about support for young performers in the industry.

Denholm Elliott

Elliott appeared as Brody in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and returned in ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’. He died on October 6, 1992 in Ibiza, Spain at age 70 from AIDS-related tuberculosis.

A three-time BAFTA winner, he worked in films such as ‘A Room with a View’, ‘Trading Places’, and ‘Defence of the Realm’. The team behind ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ included tributes to him on screen through photos and a campus statue.

Ronald Lacey

Lacey played Gestapo agent Arnold Toht in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. He died on May 15, 1991 in London at age 55 from liver cancer.

His credits ranged from British television to features like ‘Firefox’ and ‘Red Sonja’. His role in ‘Raiders’ remained one of his most recognizable performances due to the character’s memorable presence in the film’s central chase and finale.

Amrish Puri

Puri was the Thuggee high priest in ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. He died on January 12, 2005 in Mumbai at age 72 following a brain hemorrhage.

A giant of Indian cinema, he appeared in hundreds of films and is widely remembered for iconic antagonists in Hindi language hits including ‘Mr. India’ and ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’. His work spanned theater and film across multiple languages.

Philip Stone

Stone appeared as the British officer who arrives at the mine in ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. He died on June 15, 2003 in London at age 79 after a heart attack.

He had notable collaborations with Stanley Kubrick in ‘A Clockwork Orange’, ‘Barry Lyndon’, and ‘The Shining’. His television and stage career in the UK covered decades of character parts.

Pat Roach

Roach fought Indy as the flying-wing mechanic in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and appeared as a brutal overseer in ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. He also filmed a scene for ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ that did not make the final cut. He died on July 17, 2004 in Worcestershire at age 67 from esophageal cancer.

Before acting he was a champion professional wrestler in the UK, then became a go-to performer for imposing screen roles. He is also remembered for the series ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’ and numerous stunts and fight performances across major productions.

Roy Chiao

Chiao played Shanghai crime boss Lao Che in ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. He died on April 14, 1999 in Seattle at age 72 after heart complications.

He worked across Asian and Western productions with appearances in films such as ‘Summer Snow’ and ‘Bloodsport’. Chiao was multilingual and active in arts communities in Hong Kong and the United States.

Robert Eddison

Eddison portrayed the knight guarding the Grail in ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’. He died on December 14, 1991 in London at age 83.

A veteran of the British stage, he performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in numerous West End productions. His screen work included television dramas and period films alongside his long theater resume.

John Hurt

Hurt played Oxley, the archaeologist who leaves clues for Indy, in ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’. He died on January 28, 2017 in Norfolk, England at age 77.

His career spanned more than five decades with acclaimed roles in ‘The Elephant Man’, ‘Midnight Express’, ‘Alien’, and ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’. He received multiple BAFTAs and a knighthood for services to drama.

William Hootkins

Hootkins appeared as the Army intelligence official in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. He died on October 23, 2005 in Santa Monica at age 57 from pancreatic cancer.

Audiences also knew him as Jek Porkins in ‘Star Wars’ and as Lt Max Eckhardt in ‘Batman’. He split his time between stage and screen in both the UK and the US.

Don Fellows

Fellows portrayed the other intelligence officer who tasks Indy at the start of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. He died on October 21, 2007 in London at age 84.

An American actor long based in Britain, he worked steadily in film and television including appearances in ‘The Pink Panther Strikes Again’ and ‘Superman’. He also recorded voice and radio work throughout his career.

Michael Sheard

Sheard appeared as the German U-boat captain in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. He died on August 31, 2005 on the Isle of Wight at age 67 after cancer.

He was a familiar face on British television, especially for ‘Grange Hill’, and made franchise appearances in ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Star Wars’. His filmography includes a mix of historical figures and military roles.

Terry Richards

Richards played the swordsman in the marketplace confrontation in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. He died on June 14, 2014 in London at age 81.

A leading stunt performer, he worked on more than one hundred productions and appeared in multiple James Bond films. His career included fight choreography and doubling for actors across action cinema.

D.R. Nanayakkara

Nanayakkara was the shaman who asks Indy for help in ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. He died on January 4, 1989 at age 73.

He was a prominent Sri Lankan actor with a long career in local cinema and theater. His appearance in the franchise brought him international visibility late in life.

Anthony Chinn

Chinn played Mohan, the bartender at the Raven, in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. He died on October 22, 2000 in London at age 70.

Over four decades he appeared in films such as ‘A View to a Kill’ and ‘The Fifth Element’ along with many British television series. He also returned to the world of Indy in an episode of ‘The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles’.

Dimitri Diatchenko

Diatchenko appeared as a Russian operative in ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’. He died on April 21, 2020 in Florida at age 52.

He worked widely in film, television, and voice acting, including roles in ‘Chernobyl Diaries’ and video game projects. His career also included professional classical guitar performance and composition.

If we missed someone you consider a major presence in the series, drop their name and role below so we can add them in the comments.