© 1988 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Celebrated actor and stunt performer, Ed Gale died yesterday at the age of 61. The cult classic film star, who’s best remembered for being the physical performer of Chucky in Child’s Play, died in hospice care in Los Angeles, according to TMZ. The entertainer’s cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Gale also served as the physical embodiment of the antagonistic doll in Child’s Play 2 and Bride of Chucky. Before starring in the Child’s Play franchise, he rose to fame for playing the lead character in the 1986 Marvel superhero comedy, Howard the Duck.
The actor’s death was confirmed in a post on Facebook by his niece Kayse Gale. She wrote: “It is with a heavy heart and a surprisingly light coffin (see what I did there?) that we announce the sudden passing of our uncle, Ed Gale.
“Ed Gale has taken his final bow and is now headlining in the afterlife. Ed hitched a ride to California when he was twenty years old, with $41 and a dream, and he never looked back.
“He lit up the silver screens in cult classic films like Howard the Duck and Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town, earning himself some serious street cred at every con he attended. Which he never stopped bragging about. Ever.
“Over the course of his career he appeared in over 130 movies, TV shows and commercials. With this wide ranging body of work, he leaves behind legacy full of questionable lighting and amazing one-liners.
“Ed’s favorite role was that of the ‘fun uncle.’ His love language was sharing his love of the entertainment industry and the magic of Hollywood with his nieces.
“Ed loved 7 eleven hotdogs with disgusting amounts of ketchup. He enjoyed reminiscing about his glory days DJing at the Plainwell roller rink. He hated Bill Maher for no good reason. He delighted in the slow build up of telling a good story, and cheating at cribbage. He had one hell of a laugh, and he will be missed.”
The performer was born with dwarfism on August 23, 1963 in Plainwell, Michigan. He attended Plainwell High School.
After his education, Gale went on to make his film debut in Howard the Duck. He physically portrayed the lead character inside a suit while Chip Zien provided the voice.
In 1988, the actor performed a similar role as Chucky in Child’s Play. He reprised the character in the slasher movie’s 1990 sequel, Child’s Play 2, and then in the franchise’s fourth entry, 1998’s Bride of Chucky.
Gale also notably played Matthew McConaughey and Gary Oldman’s uncle in the 2003 comedy Tiptoes. After his early breakout roles, he also went on to star in Mom and Dad Save the World with Teri Garr and The Little Rascals in the 1990s.
Besides the Child’s Play films, the actor also appeared in another supernatural slasher feature, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. He also showed his versatility in Unstrung Heroes with Andie MacDowell and O Brother, Where Art Thou? alongside the George Clooney.
Gale’s other notable roles include the dinosaur Tasha in the 1991 television series, Land of the Lost. He also made appearances on such shows as Baywatch, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Just Shoot Me! and My Name is Earl.
If you liked this article, please share your comment below.