John Heard, ‘Home Alone’ Actor, Dies At 71; Macaulay Culkin Reacts

John Heard, an actor who was best known for his role as Peter McCallister in Home Alone, died on Friday in Palo Alto, California. He was 71-years-old.

While the cause of his death is still under investigation by the Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office, some believe his death may be tied to a recent back surgery the actor had.

Heard had the surgery to alleviate back pain at Stanford University Medical center and was in recovery at a nearby hotel when he was found dead by a housekeeper, according to The New York TImes.

Sharon Heard, the actor’s wife from 1988 to 1996, was the first to share the news of his death.

 

Heard began his acting career in the late 1970s, performing often in Off-Broadway shows. He gained recognition for his portrayal of a disabled Vietnam War veteran in 1981 film Cutter’s Way, alongside Jeff Bridges.

Heard gained national attention for playing Macaulay Culkin‘s frantic father in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Culkin took to Twitter to share his thought’s on Heard’s passing over the weekend.

“You will always be my father. No matter what! Your son, Kevin. #RIPJohnHeard #HomeAlone will always be a beautiful memory for us all!”

Heard was also nominated for an Emmy award for his role as Detective Vin Makazian, a crooked cop close to Tony Soprano, on The Sopranos.

Culkin was not the only one of Heard’s co-stars to share their thoughts on the veteran actor.

“John Heard – what a wonderful actor. We were in the movie Cutter’s Way together & I got to experience his artistry and dedication first hand,” wrote Jeff Bridges.

Said James Van Der Beek, “John Heard was kind, irreverent and fun. He always colored outside the lines. Working w/ him was a master class in inventiveness…”

Heard is survived by his daughter Annika Heard, his son John Heard III, and his sister Cordis Heard.