Every Notable Actor from ‘Major League’ Franchise Who Died

The ‘Major League’ films brought together a big ensemble of ballplayers, broadcasters, owners, and die-hard fans, and a few of the faces who made those stories so memorable have since passed away. Below is a concise tribute to the notable actors from the franchise who are no longer with us, along with the roles they played and when they died.

James Gammon

James Gammon played gruff and beloved Indians manager Lou Brown in ‘Major League’ and returned for ‘Major League II’. He died on July 16, 2010 at the age of 70 after cancer of the adrenal glands and liver. A veteran character actor and stage mainstay, he worked steadily in film and television for decades. Fans of the series remember him as the voice that pushed the team to give hitters the heater.

Margaret Whitton

Margaret Whitton portrayed owner Rachel Phelps, the scheming executive who tried to tank the team in ‘Major League’ and returned in the sequel. She died on December 4, 2016 at the age of 67 following a brief battle with cancer. Beyond acting, she directed and produced and served as president of an independent film company. Her turn as Phelps remains one of the franchise’s defining antagonists.

Andy Romano

Andy Romano played first base coach Pepper Leach in ‘Major League’. He died on September 14, 2022 at the age of 86. Romano enjoyed a long career with credits across film and television, including roles in action and crime dramas. His calm presence in the dugout scenes helped round out the club’s coaching staff on screen.

Charles Cyphers

Charles Cyphers appeared as general manager Charlie Donovan in ‘Major League’. He died on August 4, 2024 at the age of 85 after a brief illness. Cyphers worked widely in film and television and was well known for collaborations with filmmaker John Carpenter. In the baseball comedy, he played the front office figure caught between ownership’s orders and the team’s fight to win.

Bob Uecker

Bob Uecker stole scenes as radio announcer Harry Doyle in ‘Major League’, ‘Major League II’, and ‘Major League: Back to the Minors’. He died on January 16, 2025 at the age of 90 after battling small cell lung cancer. A Hall of Fame broadcaster and former catcher, he served as the Milwaukee Brewers’ radio voice for more than five decades. His energetic calls in the films gave fans many of the franchise’s most quoted lines.

Marge Kotlisky

Marge Kotlisky played Chaire Holloway in ‘Major League’. She was born on February 19, 1927 in Chicago and died there on December 2, 1997. The cause of death was cancer. Her film work also included ‘Thief’ and ‘Sixteen Candles’.

Louis Turenne

Louis Turenne played the Distinguished Gentleman in ‘Major League II’. He was born on November 26, 1933 in Montréal and died on July 25, 2006 in Los Angeles. The cause of death was undisclosed. His other notable work includes ‘Hellraiser: Bloodline’, ‘Mystic Pizza’, and ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’.

Ted Manson

Ted Manson portrayed the Miracles Manager in ‘Major League: Back to the Minors’. He was born on October 23, 1926 in Columbus, Ohio and died on June 1, 2008 in Atlanta. The cause of death was lung cancer. His film credits include ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, ‘Talladega Nights’, and ‘Runaway Jury’.

J. Don Ferguson

J. Don Ferguson appeared as Mick the Umpire in ‘Major League: Back to the Minors’. He was born on November 21, 1933 in Knoxville and died on October 1, 2008 in Savannah. The cause of death was leukemia. His work also included roles in ‘Tank’, ‘Fast Food’, and ‘Maximum Overdrive’.

James Deuter

James Deuter portrayed Phil Butler in ‘Major League’. He was born on March 19, 1939 in Chicago and died on August 29, 2010 in Chicago. The cause of death was undisclosed. His additional credits include ‘Payback’ and ‘The Hudsucker Proxy’.

Have we missed anyone you think belongs here from the ‘Major League’ movies? Share names and roles in the comments so we can keep this tribute complete.