William Damage, Oscar-Successful Main Man of the Eighties, Dies at 71

In recent times he had labored extra in tv, together with the FX collection “Damages” and the British sci-fi drama “People.” He was additionally within the 2013 tv film “The Challenger Catastrophe,” which in a 2015 interview prompted The Guardian to ask him if he was fascinated about area journey.

“I’m fascinated about all horizons and what’s on the opposite aspect of them,” he mentioned. “We all know much less concerning the ocean than we do about area. I prefer to swim, float and fly.”

William McChord Damage was born on March 20, 1950, in Washington, the son of Alfred Damage, a profession diplomat, and Claire Isabel (McGill) Damage, who labored at Time Inc. When Invoice was 6, his mother and father separated, and his mom married Henry Luce III, the son of Time journal’s founder.

Mr. Damage attended Tufts College and went on to review appearing at Juilliard. By the second half of the Nineteen Seventies, he was drawing discover on New York phases, notably showing within the Lanford Wilson play “Fifth of July” at Circle Rep in 1978. In 1981, Frank Wealthy, reviewing “Childe Byron” at Circle Rep for The Instances, singled him out.

“Perhaps William Damage has now been found by Hollywood (‘Altered States,’ ‘Eyewitness’), however he hasn’t misplaced any of that loopy depth that makes him a pleasure to observe within the theater,” Mr. Wealthy’s overview started. “What makes this gifted actor so particular — and, inevitably, a star — is his means to create his personal actuality onstage. Whereas he can create a strong character when he needs to (as he did with Kenneth Talley within the unique manufacturing of “Fifth of July”), he’s ready to be fascinating with none assist from a playwright.”

If his appearing drew raves, Mr. Damage’s private life was rocky. He had a relationship along with his co-star in “Kids of a Lesser God,” Marlee Matlin, which she later described as abusive. An extended-term relationship with Sandra Jennings, a dancer, landed in courtroom in 1989, with Ms. Jennings contending, unsuccessfully, that they have been in impact married. His marriages to Mary Beth Damage and Heidi Henderson resulted in divorce.