Art Evans, who played Corporal Dolan in the popular television series M*A*S*H, passed away at 82. He reportedly died on December 21, 2024, due to complications from Diabetes.
His wife, Babe Evans paid tribute in a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly.
"Art was not only an incredible actor but a devoted husband, friend, and source of light to everyone who knew him. His laughter, passion, and love of life will be deeply missed. While our hearts are heavy, we celebrate the legacy of joy and inspiration he leaves behind."
In another statement, his representatives, LyNea Bell and Charleen McGuire remembered him as “a remarkable talent who touched many lives with his work. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”
Evans was a prominent figure in Hollywood. He was best known for his roles in Die Hard 2 and A Soldier’s Story. Let us explore how he made an impact in the film industry.
Exploring Art Evan’s Hollywood career
Art Evans, also known by his birth name Arthur James Evans, was born on March 27, 1942, in Berkeley, California.
He studied drama at the Theater of Being in Los Angeles, founded by Frank Silvera and Vantile Whitfield, according to his IMDb page. He made his acting debut in The Amen Corner, produced by James Baldwin.
His career began in the early 1970s when he landed several uncredited roles. He played the role of a waiter in the 1972 film Sisters, “Young Brother” in the romantic-comedy drama Claudine, and “police officer” in the 1974 film Death Wish.
He landed a lead role as Curtis 'The Dude' Brown in the 1975 TV movie The Orphan and the Dude. In the TV series M*A*S*H which aired between 1972 and 1983 on the CBS-TV. The comedy-drama focused on the lives of the staff of an army hospital in the Korean War, according to the IMDb page.
Evans portrayed the character of Corporal Dolan. The 1979 episode was titled, Private Finance. Dolan plays an acquaintance of Corporal Eddie Hastings who had known him since basic training, according to Fandom.
In the 1990 film Die Hard 2, Evans played the role of Leslie Barnes, a chief airport engineer. The film stars Bruce Wilis in the lead role as John McClane. In the action-thriller, Barnes helps McClane thwart the plan of the terrorists. Evans is also widely known for portraying the character of Private Wilkie in the 1984 film, A Soldier’s Story.
Over his 40-year acting career, his credits include Big Time, Youngblood, National Lampoon's Class Reunion, Fright Night, School Daze, Bitter Harvest, Tales from the Hood, and Metro. On the television front, Evans made appearances in Hill Street Blues, Monk, The X-Files, Family Matters, and A Different World.
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Besides his acting career, Art Evans had several other accomplishments including a Junior Olympic Diver, a musician, a veteran of the Vietnam War, and a Buddhist with SGI-USA, as per a report in Entertainment Weekly.
Evans is survived by his wife, Babe Evans, and a son Ogadae Evans. Reportedly, his last appearances were in the Disney+ animated series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, where he worked as a voice-over artist for two episodes in 2022 and 2023.
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