Nicholas Worth

The Menace of Physical Threat

Nicholas Worth didn't need to speak to fill the frame. His six-foot-two frame and build as a former paratrooper did all the dirty work before he delivered his first line of dialogue. For decades, he was the face of villainy in B-movies and the high-end supporting player who brought almost unbearable physical tension to every scene.

In 1980, he starred in Don't Answer the Phone!, directed by Robert Hammer. His portrayal of Kirk Smith put him on the radar of casting directors looking for psychos with an unsettling presence. That role as a muscular, unhinged serial killer defined much of what came after.

He was the face of B-movie villainy.

But Nicholas Worth was more than just a big body. His training at the Pasadena Playhouse allowed him to handle roles that other actors of his physique didn't even attempt. That mix of brute force and theatrical technique helped him survive in an industry that often chews up character actors fast.

From the Swamp of Wes Craven to Science Fiction

In 1982, he appeared in Swamp Thing under the direction of Wes Craven. His role as Bruno showed he could fit into genre productions with bigger budgets without losing that constant air of danger. So the eighties became a parade of supporting characters on series such as The A-Team and Knight Rider.

His ability to intimidate leading actors made him a safe bet for producers.

In 1986, he worked alongside Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge. Playing a Marine didn't take much effort, since he knew military discipline well from his time in the United States Army. But genre film remained his natural habitat.

In 1990, he had a notable role in Darkman directed by Sam Raimi. He played Pauly, one of the thugs who suffers the consequences of crossing a disfigured Liam Neeson. It was one of the 45 movies he shot over the course of his career.

Pixels and Prosthetic Makeup

Television and film were not his only battlegrounds. In 2000, he lent his image and voice to the video game Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, where he played Premier Alexander Romanov. His over-the-top, charismatic performance won him a new fan base, including people who weren't even born when he was already terrorizing neighborhood movie theaters.

And the gamble paid off.

He also made several appearances in the Star Trek universe. In 1993, he appeared in Deep Space Nine, and later, in 1996, he took part in Voyager. Nicholas Worth wore pounds of prosthetic makeup with the same professionalism he brought to a crime drama.

Nicholas Worth died on December 15, 2007, in Van Nuys from heart failure. He was 70 years old. His last credited work was a brief appearance on The King of Queens a couple of years before his death. His body was cremated, and his ashes were returned to his family.