Nicky Katt
Nicky Katt | |
|---|---|
 Katt in Boiler Room (2000) | |
| Born | Agustin Islas May 11, 1970 Acapulco, Mexico |
| Died | c. April 8, 2025 (aged 54) Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1980–2018 |
| Spouse |
Annie Morse
(m. 1999; div. 2001) |
Nicky Katt (born Agustin Islas; May 11, 1970 – c. April 8, 2025) was an American actor. He began his career as a child actor, and as an adult, frequently played unsympathetic characters or villains. He was known for his starring role as Harry Senate on the television series Boston Public (2000–2002), and his work with directors Richard Linklater and Steven Soderbergh, including Dazed and Confused (1993) and The Limey (1999).
In addition to Linklater, Katt played prominent supporting roles in multiple films by Robert Rodriguez and Christopher Nolan, including Insomnia (2002) and Sin City (2005). His other film credits included A Time to Kill (1996), Boiler Room and The Way of the Gun (both 2000), and Secondhand Lions (2003).
Early life
[edit]Katt was born Agustin Islas in Acapulco, Mexico, on May 11, 1970,[1] to American costume designer Carol Katt and musician Agustin Islas, the bassist for the Mexican rock band El Klan.[2] He was raised in the Los Angeles area, attending St. Paul's Lutheran School in North Hollywood before graduating from Providence High School in Burbank.[2]
Career
[edit]Katt began his career as a child actor, professionally taking his mother's surname. He adopted the name Nicky at the suggestion of comedian Harvey Korman.[2] He made his career debut in a 1980 episode of the television series Fantasy Island,[3] followed by his first film role in Underground Aces (1981), and further TV roles in episodes of CHiPs, Father Murphy, and V.[4]
As an adult, he was known for his role as unorthodox teacher Harry Senate on David E. Kelley's Fox drama series Boston Public.[5][6] He was often cast as a villain, including as a murderous cop on the take in Monk, an irascible motorhead in Dazed and Confused, an ill-fated white supremacist child rapist in A Time to Kill, and an embittered business rival in Boiler Room.[7] Katt's other roles include Tim in SubUrbia (1996),[8] Stacy the hitman in The Limey (1999),[9] Adolf Hitler in Full Frontal (2002),[10] Fred Duggar in Insomnia (2002),[11] Stuka in Sin City (2005), and Nate Petite in Snow Angels (2008).[12] He voiced the character Atton Rand in Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.[13]
In 2004, he appeared in the Off-Broadway production of the Woody Allen play A Second Hand Memory.[14]
Katt's last acting appearance was a 2018 episode of the television series Casual. In 2020, he participated in a virtual table read with the cast of Dazed and Confused.[15]
Personal life
[edit]Katt was married to Annie Morse from 1999 until their divorce in 2001.[16] He resided in Ben Lomond, California, in his final years, where he cared for his mother until her death in 2023.[2]
Death
[edit]Katt was found dead at age 54 by his landlord who went to collect his overdue rent on April 8, 2025, at his home in Burbank, California. He had died by suicide by hanging and appeared to have been dead for several days before his body was discovered.[13][17][18]
Several of Katt's former collaborators paid tribute to the actor.[2] Richard Linklater wrote, "Nicky had a deep love for the character actors of cinema history, and I think saw himself that way...I think he probably over-filled all his roles, which makes him memorable...That brilliant spark will be missed."[2] Robert Rodriguez said, "Nicky was an absolute joy on and off the camera. A true artist. A friend."[2]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Underground Aces | Son | ||
| 1984 | Gremlins | Schoolchild | ||
| 1989 | The 'Burbs | Steve Kuntz | ||
| 1990 | Martians Go Home | Hippie | ||
| 1992 | Sister Act | Waiter | ||
| 1993 | Dazed and Confused | Clint Bruno | ||
| American Yakuza | Vic | [19] | ||
| 1995 | The Doom Generation | Carnoburger Cashier | ||
| The Cure | "Pony" | [20] | ||
| Strange Days | Joey Corto | |||
| The Babysitter | Mark | [19] | ||
| 1996 | A Time to Kill | Billy Ray Cobb | [19] | |
| subUrbia | Tim | [19] | ||
| Johns | "Mix" | [19] | ||
| 1997 | Batman & Robin | "Spike" | ||
| 1998 | Phantoms | Deputy Steve Shanning | [19] | |
| One True Thing | Jordan Belzer | [19] | ||
| Delivered | Barry | [19] | ||
| 1999 | The Limey | Stacy | [19] | |
| 2000 | Boiler Room | Greg Weinstein | [21] | |
| Rules of Engagement | Hayes Lawrence Hodges III | |||
| The Way of the Gun | Obecks | [19] | ||
| 2001 | Waking Life | Himself | ||
| 2002 | Insomnia | Detective Fred Duggar | [19] | |
| Full Frontal | Hitler | [19] | ||
| Speakeasy | Frank Marnikov | [19] | ||
| 2003 | I Love Your Work | Goateed Man | ||
| Secondhand Lions | Stan | [19] | ||
| School of Rock | "Razor" | |||
| 2004 | Riding the Bullet | Ferris | [19] | |
| 2005 | Sin City | Stuka | ||
| 2006 | World Trade Center | Volunteer Fireman | ||
| 2007 | Snow Angels | Nate Petite | [19] | |
| Planet Terror | Joe | |||
| Death Proof | Counter Guy | |||
| The Brave One | Detective Vitale | [19] | ||
| 2008 | Harold | Police Officer #1 | ||
| The Dark Knight | S.W.A.T. Member | Uncredited | ||
| 2011 | The Sitter | NYPD Officer |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Fantasy Island | Bookie | Episode: "The Devil and Mandy Breem/Instant Millionaire"; uncredited | [19] |
| 1981 | CHiPs | Pat McGuire | Episode: "Diamond in the Rough" | [19] |
| Father Murphy | Chester | 2 episodes | ||
| 1982 | Code Red | Kenny | Episode: "Burnout" | |
| Herbie, the Love Bug | Matthew MacLane | 5 episodes | ||
| Voyagers! | Jack, The Artful Dodger | Episode: "The Day the Rebs Took Lincoln" | ||
| Trapper John, M.D. | Scott Spencer | Episode: "The Good Life" | [19] | |
| 1983 | Quincy, M.E. | Jeff Reano | Episode: "Suffer the Little Children" | |
| 1984 | V | Sean Donovan | 2 episodes | [19] |
| The Get Along Gang | Leland Lizard (voice) | 7 episodes | ||
| CBS Schoolbreak Special | Jeff Anastas | Episode: "Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story" | ||
| 1988 | The Facts of Life | Mark | Episode: "Present Imperfect" | [19] |
| 1989–90 | Dear John | Amorous Male Student | 2 episodes | [19] |
| 1990 | Lifestories | Paul Albertson | Episode: "The Hawkins Family" | |
| 1991 | Uncle Buck | Tommy | Episode: "In Tia We Trust" | |
| 1992 | Love & War | Clerk | Episode: "Bustiers and Body Points" | |
| 1994 | Knight Rider 2010 | Johnny | Television film | |
| 1995 | Double Rush | Nicky | Episode: "The Show We Wrote the Day We Found Out We Were Going on Opposite Roseanne" | |
| 1996 | Friends | Arthur | Episode: "The One with the Bullies" | [19] |
| Kindred: The Embraced | Starkweather | Episode: "Nightstalker" | [19] | |
| 2000–02 | Boston Public | Harry Senate | 49 episodes | [19] |
| 2003 | The Guardian | Evan Piscarek | 2 episodes | [19] |
| 2003–04 | King of the Hill | Various voices | 3 episodes | [19] |
| 2006 | Monk | Sergeant Ryan Sharkey | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Captain's Marriage" | [19] |
| Love Monkey | Nathan Kitt | Episode: "Confidence" | [19] | |
| 2007 | Law & Order | Isaac "Iced Out Ike" Krantz | Episode: "Bling" | [19] |
| 2013 | Behind the Candelabra | Mr. Y | Television film | |
| 2018 | Casual | Cyril | Episode: "Polytropos"; final role |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords | Atton Rand | [22] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Today's Birthdays". Times-Union. The Associated Press. May 11, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
Actor Nicky Katt is 50.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fleming Jr., Mike (April 14, 2025). "Nicky Katt Tributes From Directors Linklater, McQuarrie, Robert Rodriguez, David Gordon Green, Adam Goldberg & More". Deadline. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ Morrow, Brendan (April 13, 2025). "Nicky Katt, 'Boston Public' and 'Dazed and Confused' star, dies at 54: Reports". USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Hume, Ashley (April 13, 2025). "Nicky Katt, 'Dazed and Confused' and 'Boston Public' star, dead at 54". Fox News. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Zoller Seitz, Matt (March 26, 2001). "Compelling lunacy". The Star-Ledger. p. 45. Retrieved April 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Smith, Lynn (August 1, 2002). "Nicky Katt, a Go-To Guy with a Can-Do Attitude". The Los Angeles Times Calendar Weekend. p. 34. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ^ Fine, Marshall (February 17, 2000). "'Boiler' updates moral lessons from 'Wall Street'". Press and Sun-Bulletin. p. 3. Retrieved April 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fine, Marshall (February 6, 1997). "Once paradise, 'burbs give vent to teen envy, despair". Potomac News. p. D5. Retrieved April 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wilmington, Michael (October 8, 1999). "Soderbergh Puts Style and Feeling Back Into Modern Noir". Herald News. p. B8. Retrieved April 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ King, Dennis (September 21, 2002). "Low-budget indie film 'Full Frontal' boasts high-wattage star power". Tulsa World. p. D4. Retrieved April 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Howard, Andrew (June 4, 2002). "'Insomnia' won't put you to sleep". Post-Bulletin. p. 3C. Retrieved April 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wilmington, Michael (March 21, 2008). "Small-town poetry doesn't mask the madness in 'Snow'". The Daily Herald. p. 50. Retrieved April 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Saperstein, Pat (April 12, 2025). "Nicky Katt, Actor in 'Boston Public,' 'Dazed and Confused,' Dies at 54". Variety. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ Rooney, David (November 22, 2004). "A Second Hand Memory". Variety. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (April 13, 2025). "Nicky Katt, 'Dazed and Confused' and 'Boiler Room' Actor, Dead at 54". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ^ Hornik, Caitlin (April 12, 2025). "Nicky Katt death: Dazed and Confused actor dies aged 54, according to reports". The Independent. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ Patten, Dominic; Petski, Denise (April 14, 2025). "Nicky Katt Died By Suicide, Family Confirms; 'Dazed & Confused' Star Discovered On April 8 In Apartment". Deadline. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ "'Dazed and Confused' actor Nicky Katt died by suicide at home: report". New York Daily News. April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "Nicky Katt Movies & TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (April 23, 1995). "'The Cure' an exceptionally well-acted tale of childhood". The Californian. p. C5. Retrieved April 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (February 18, 2000). "Boiler Room Movie Review & Film Summary (2000)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ "Nicky Katt − Voice Actor". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 12, 2025. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
External links
[edit]- Nicky Katt at IMDb
- 1970 births
- 2025 deaths
- 2025 suicides
- American male child actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- Male actors from California
- Suicides by hanging in California
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors