Nicky Katt, Actor in ‘Boston Public,’ ‘Dazed and Confused,’ Dies at 54

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54-year-old Nicky Katt, who portrayed teacher Harry Senate on “Boston Public” following a career that began as a child actor and later included playing hardened characters in films like “Dazed and Confused” and “Boiler Room,” has passed away.

It was announced that he had passed away on April 8 in Burbank, according to his friends and attorney John Sloss.

Frequently portraying tough characters and antagonists, Katt has collaborated with Richard Linklater, starring in “Waking Life,” “SubUrbia,” and “School of Rock.” For director Steven Soderbergh, he was featured as Stacy the Hitman in “The Limey,” as Hitler in “Full Frontal,” and took his final role in “Behind the Candelabra.” Christopher Nolan directed him in “Insomnia” and “The Dark Knight,” where he played a member of the S.W.A.T. team.

Or more informally:

Katt, known for playing heavy characters, worked with Richard Linklater on several projects including “Waking Life,” “SubUrbia,” and “School of Rock.” He also collaborated with Steven Soderbergh in “The Limey” as a hitman, “Full Frontal” as Hitler, and took his final role in “Behind the Candelabra.” Christopher Nolan cast him in “Insomnia” and “The Dark Knight,” where he played a member of the S.W.A.T. team.

In “Boston Public,” Katt’s character was Harry Senate, a well-liked geology teacher who taught difficult students in what was referred to as “the dungeon.” The creator of the show, David E. Kelley, decided to have Senator’s character written off after a mental breakdown, allowing Katt to focus on his film career following three seasons.

In the movie “Dazed and Confused” directed by Linklater, Matthew McConaughey portrayed the character Clint Bruno, a tough guy who bullies Mike (Adam Goldberg) and later assaults him. He continued to act in various films including Gregg Araki’s “The Doom Generation,” Kathryn Bigelow’s “Strange Days,” Neil Jordan’s “The Brave One,” as well as two movies directed by Joel Schumacher, “A Time to Kill” and “Batman & Robin.

In Christopher McQuarrie’s first directing venture, the 2000 Western action movie “The Way of the Gun,” Katt played an impactful role as a security guard who sustained injuries during a gunfight.

Additionally, he lent his vocal talents to portray Atton Rand within the “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords” computer game.

Kat, residing partially in Austin, Texas, collaborated with Richard Rodriguez on the project “Sin City.” Additionally, Kat made an appearance in Quentin Tarantino’s film titled “Death Proof.

In a 2008 interview regarding his role in David Gordon Green’s “Snow Angels,” he expressed to Todd Gilchrist that he tends to add humor to situations, not in a way that overshadows others, but particularly when the subject matter is heavy. He likened himself to a breath of fresh air for someone struggling, much like oxygen for a drowning man.

As a passionate cinephile, I must confess that it’s often asserted that the antagonists are the most intriguing characters. However, there have been periods where I was almost exclusively typecast as the villain, particularly following ‘Dazed and Confused.’ Yet, I consider myself incredibly fortunate because my roles have encompassed a diverse array of characters.

Originally hailing from South Dakota, Katt made his acting debut on television at a young age. He later landed minor parts in the films “Gremlins” and “The Burbs.

On TV, he made appearances on various shows such as “Herbie, the Love Bug,” “V,” “Quincy M.E.,” “Father Murphy” and “Law & Order.” His most recent role was on the series “Casual” in 2018.

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2025-04-13 03:16