Wings Hauser, the versatile and intense character actor whose memorable portrayals in films like "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling," "Vice Squad," and "Tough Guys Don’t Dance" earned him widespread acclaim, has passed away at the age of 77. His daughter, Bright Hauser, revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he succumbed to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) at his Santa Monica home on Saturday, noting that he had recently been reliant on an oxygen tank.
Hauser leaves behind a legacy that includes his son, actor Cole Hauser, currently starring as the resilient Rip Wheeler in the popular series "Yellowstone."
Hauser's breakthrough role came in 1982 when he starred as Ramrod, a psychopathic pimp, in Avco Embassy Pictures' lurid thriller "Vice Squad," directed by horror veteran Gary Sherman. He even lent his vocal talents to the film's theme song, "Neon Slime." His diverse range was further showcased in roles such as a racist U.S. Army officer in "A Soldier’s Story" (1984), directed by Norman Jewison; a cocaine dealer in "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling" (1986), starring Richard Pryor; and a gritty cop in "Tough Guys Don’t Dance" (1987), penned and directed by Norman Mailer, for which he received a Spirit Award nomination.
His acting journey began in earnest in 1977 when he joined the cast of the CBS soap opera "The Young and the Restless," portraying Greg Foster for three seasons. He returned briefly in 2010 for a couple of episodes. Across numerous television appearances, Hauser's charismatic presence was felt in roles like Lieutenant Colonel Miller on ABC's "China Beach" (1990-91), Ty Tilden, the Conners family neighbor, on "Roseanne" (1992-93), and bounty hunter J. Jay Jones on Fox's "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1994-96).
In a heartfelt tribute, his daughter wrote, "Wings had a career that spanned decades, breathing life into raw, complex, and unforgettable characters. Whether he was embodying the tough anti-hero in gritty crime dramas, the despised villain, or the unexpected sage in independent films, he always infused his work with a fearless authenticity. His performances transcended mere roles; they were lived-in experiences, charged with the energy, edge, and charisma that marked him as a truly unique talent. Beyond the screen, Wings was a cherished friend, a guiding mentor, a dreamer, and, most importantly, a man whose love ran deep."
Gerald Dwight Hauser was born in Hollywood on December 12, 1947. His father, Dwight Hauser, an actor and screenwriter (notably of the radio drama "The Whistler"), fell prey to the Hollywood Blacklist. His mother, Geraldine, was the daughter of Tom Thienes, who authored "Whimseys," a book of verse, in the 1920s.
Hauser made his mark in the 1967 war epic "First to Fight" and honed his football skills at Thousand Oaks High School and the Northridge Military Academy, earning the nickname that stuck with him due to his prowess as a wingback. Before dedicating himself fully to acting and music, his athletic endeavors were a defining part of his life.
Revealing a poignant chapter, Hauser recounted being homeless in the 1970s, sharing a vacant garage in L.A.'s MacArthur Park neighborhood with his infant daughter. Fortunately, his fortunes changed in 1975 when he appeared on an episode of CBS's "Cannon" and released "Your Love Keeps Me Off the Streets" under the moniker Wings Livinryte, an RCA album that blended easy listening with country pop.
Throughout the latter part of the decade, he graced the screens of "Baretta," "Emergency!," and starred alongside Nick Nolte in Karel Reisz's "Who'll Stop the Rain" (1978). Drawing inspiration from a Vietnam veteran friend, Hauser penned the screenplay for the war film "Uncommon Valor" (1983), directed by Ted Kotcheff and featuring Gene Hackman, Patrick Swayze, and Robert Stack. Additionally, he helmed films such as "Coldfire" (1990), "The Art of Dying" (1991), and "Skins" (1994).
On the small screen, Hauser co-starred with Adam West in the 1986 NBC series "The Last Precinct" and the 1991-92 syndicated action series "Lightning Force." His big-screen credits include notable films like "Wilding" (1990), "Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time" (1991), Michael Mann's "The Insider" (1999), and the quirky "Rubber" (2010). He also made guest appearances on various TV shows, including "The Fall Guy," "Hunter," "Airwolf," "Murder, She Wrote," "The Young Riders," "Monk," "Rizzoli & Isles," and "Criminal Minds."
Surviving him are his third wife, Cali, whom he married in 2002 and collaborated with in an indie film and music studio; his sisters, Helena and Marcia; and his grandchildren, Hutchinson, Holden, Ryland, Colt, and Steely Rose. Sadly, his brother Erich passed away in 2017.
In a heartfelt statement, his wife Cali reminisced, "He believed I was his future, and as a feminist, I found my soulmate in him, proud and happy to build our dreams together. I never envisioned marriage or partnership until Wings came into my life. It's undeniably harder now, but I vow to honor his wish for me to 'continue the work' and complete all the projects we planned for the coming years.
"Our daily ritual began with a silly sing-song: 'Good morning, I love you. Good morning, I adore you. Good morning, I love you, kiss and a hug and a kiss kiss kiss.' We showered each other with 'I love you's' all day and ended every night with 'Good night, I love you.' Our love was a testament to the power of unwavering affection and companionship."
