Home Alone Star John Heard Dead at Age 71

He was also known for roles in Big, Beaches and The Sopranos

By Corinne Heller Jul 22, 2017 2:41 PMTags
John Heard(AP Photo/Matt Sayles

John Heard of Home Alone and Big fame has passed away.

The 71-year-old actor was found dead Friday in a Palo Alto, California hotel room Friday, the Santa Clara Medical Examiner and Coroner's office said Saturday. Heard had been staying there while he was recovering from recent back surgery, Variety reported 

The cause of his death remains under investigation. An autopsy was performed Saturday morning and toxicology tests will later be conducted, the medical examiner said, adding that no evidence of foul play has been found.

Heard is best known for playing Macaulay Culkin's character's father in the first two Home Alone movies. He also played Tom Hanks' character's adversary on the 1988 film Big and starred in the 1981 movie Cutter's Way and the 1988 film Beaches.

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20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

In the late '90s and early '00s, Heard played Detective Vin Makazian on The Sopranos. In recent years, he appeared on shows such as NCIS: Los Angeles, Elementary and MacGyver, as well as a slew of small films.

Heard is survived by a son, Jack, and daughter, Annika. His son Max passed away at age 22 last December.

—Reporting by Holly Passalaqua