Art Evans

Acting

Art Evans

Born 1942-03-27 · Berkeley, California, USA

Arthur James “Art” Evans (March 27, 1942 - December 21, 2024) was an American actor who made multiple film and television program appearances over the span of five decades. His acting career started with Frank Silvera's Theater of Being in Los Angeles. He took a starring role in "The Amen Corner," which transferred to Broadway in 1965. His first uncredited acting performance in film was "Claudine" in 1974. His first credited role was in "Chico and the Man" as Bubba in the episode "Too Many Crooks," which aired in 1976. He is probably best known for his role as Leslie Barnes in the action 1990s film "Die Hard 2: Die Harder," in which he plays an air traffic control tower employee. Evans has also appeared in "Fright Night" and "Fright Night II," as well as many appearances in a variety of television shows such as "M*A*S*H" and "Hill Street Blues." In 1984, Evans co-starred in the all-star African-American drama "A Soldier's Story" as the memorable brown-nosing character, Wilkie. His talents for many instruments came in handy when playing Blind Lemon Jefferson in the movie "Leadbelly." Also starred in the music video for Stevie Wonder's "Go Home."

Acting credits

Die Hard 2 poster
7.0

One year after his heroics in Los Angeles, John McClane is an off-duty cop who is the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. On a snowy Christmas Eve, as he waits for his wife's plane to land at Washington Dulles International Airport, terrorists take over the air traffic control system in a plot to free a South American army general and drug smuggler being flown into the US to face drug charges. It's now up to McClane to take on the terrorists, while coping with an inept airport police chief, an uncooperative anti-terrorist squad, and the life of his wife and everyone else trapped in planes circling overhead.

Die Hard 2

1990

Christine poster
6.9

Nerdy high schooler Arnie Cunningham falls for Christine, a rusty 1958 Plymouth Fury, and becomes obsessed with restoring the classic automobile to her former glory. As the car changes, so does Arnie, whose newfound confidence turns to arrogance behind the wheel of his exotic beauty. Arnie's girlfriend Leigh and best friend Dennis reach out to him, only to be met by a Fury like no other.

Christine

1983

Death Wish poster
6.9

After his wife is murdered by street punks, a pacifistic New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad, prowling the streets for would-be muggers after dark.

Death Wish

1974

Fright Night poster
7.0

Charley Brewster, a high school student, accidentally discovers the true and creepy nature of Jerry Dandrige, his dashing and enigmatic new neighbor; but no one seems willing to believe him.

Fright Night

1985

Ruthless People poster
6.6

Sam Stone hates his wife Barbara so much that he wants her dead. He's ecstatic when she's taken by a duo of kidnappers who want $500,000 ransom in exchange for her life. Fully intending to ignore every one of the kidnappers' demands in the hopes that they do him a favor and murder her for him, the two confused kidnappers have to figure out how they're going get their money, and what they're going to do with the overbearing Barbara.

Ruthless People

1986

Into the Night poster
6.5

Ed Okin used to have a boring life. He used to have trouble getting to sleep. Then one night, he met Diana. Now, Ed's having trouble staying alive.

Into the Night

1985

Interstate 60 poster
7.4

An aspiring painter meets various characters and learns valuable lessons while traveling across America.

Interstate 60

2002

Metro poster
5.7

Roper, a hostage negotiator catches a murderous bank robber after a blown heist. The bank robber escapes and immediately goes after the man who put him behind bars.

Metro

1997

Trespass poster
6.3

Two Arkansas firemen, Vince and Don, get hold of a map that leads to a cache of stolen gold in an abandoned factory in East St. Louis. What they don't know is that the factory is on the turf of a local gang, who come by to execute one of their enemies. Vince sees the shooting, the gang spots Vince, and extended mayhem ensues. As Vince and Don try to escape, gang leader King James argues with his subordinate Savon about how to get rid of the trespassers.

Trespass

1992

A Soldier's Story poster
6.8

In a rural town in Louisiana, a black Master Sergeant is found shot to death just outside the local Army Base. Military lawyer, Captain Davenport—also a black man—is sent from Washington to conduct an investigation. Facing an uncooperative chain of command and fearful black troops, Davenport must battle with deceit and prejudice in order to find out exactly who really did kill the Master Sergeant.

A Soldier's Story

1984

Tuff Turf poster
6.0

The new guy in a Los Angeles high school, Morgan, does some singing and fights hotshot Nick over disco dancer Frankie.

Tuff Turf

1985

The Great White Hype poster
5.2

When the champ's promoter, Rev. Sultan, decides something new is needed to boost the marketability of the boxing matches, he searches and finds the only man to ever beat the champ. The problem is that he isn't a boxer anymore and he's white. However, once Rev. Sultan convinces him to fight, he goes into heavy training while the confident champ takes it easy and falls out of shape.

The Great White Hype

1996

The Mighty Quinn poster
6.0

Police chief Xavier Quinn investigates the gruesome murder of Donald Pater, one of the wealthiest residents on a Caribbean island. He was found decapitated in his Jacuzzi. Although the local political establishment, especially crooked Governor Chalk, insists that small-time thief Maubee is responsible, Xavier has his doubts. This view is complicated by the police chief's personal history with Maubee: The men have been friends since childhood.

The Mighty Quinn

1989

Tales from the Hood poster
6.3

A strange mortician tells four horrific tales to three drug dealers that he traps in a local funeral parlor.

Tales from the Hood

1995

Fun with Dick and Jane poster
6.6

When an upwardly mobile couple find themselves unemployed and in debt, they turn to armed robbery in desperation.

Fun with Dick and Jane

1977

The In-Laws poster
6.6

In preparation for his daughter's wedding, dentist Sheldon Kornpett meets Vince Ricardo, the groom's father. Vince, a manic fellow who claims to be a government agent, then proceeds to drag Sheldon into a series of chases and misadventures from New York to Central America.

The In-Laws

1979

The In-Laws poster
6.6

In preparation for his daughter's wedding, dentist Sheldon Kornpett meets Vince Ricardo, the groom's father. Vince, a manic fellow who claims to be a government agent, then proceeds to drag Sheldon into a series of chases and misadventures from New York to Central America.

The In-Laws

1979

CB4 poster
6.1

A "rockumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't appear to know as much about rap music as they claim... but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You've just got to play the part of a rap star...

CB4

1993

Never Die Alone poster
5.5

A drug kingpin's rise and tragic fall is witnessed vicariously by a reporter who uses the criminal's diary as the basis for his new book.

Never Die Alone

2004

Downtown poster
5.7

Officer Alex Kearney patrols an upscale neighborhood in Philadelphia, where he pulls over a well-connected white collar executive who promises to get even with the policeman. Soon, Kearney learns that he is off the cushy suburban beat and must now work in the deadliest precinct in Philly, where he is partnered with tough veteran cop Dennis Curran. Tensions are high between them, but Kearney soon proves he can play just as rough as the crooks.

Downtown

1990

Bushwhacked poster
5.4

A inept courier realises he has been used by criminals to deliver money. On the run from both the criminals and police, he poses as a Scout leader and leads a scout group on a hike through the mountains.

Bushwhacked

1995

Sisters poster
6.7

Inquisitive journalist Grace Collier is horrified when she witnesses her neighbor, fashion model Danielle Breton, violently murder a man. Panicking, she calls the police. But when the detective arrives at the scene and finds nothing amiss, Grace is forced to take matters into her own hands. Her first move is to recruit private investigator Joseph Larch, who helps her to uncover a secret about Danielle's past that has them both seeing double.

Sisters

1973

Wrong Is Right poster
5.6

Political double-talk, dirty tricks, hidden microphones, spy satellites, bugging the Oval Office and a nuclear bomb for sale are all ingredients in this swift, funny and frightening look at the possibilities in today's political arenas. Sean Connery stars as TV Newsman Patrick Hale on an international chase to track two suitcase sized nuclear weapons and to uncover the twisting maze of apparent involvement of US Government agencies.

Wrong Is Right

1982

School Daze poster
5.7

Fraternity and sorority members clash with other students at a historically black college during homecoming weekend.

School Daze

1988