Nicholas Worth, a towering figure of a man, was often cast as formidable and intimidating villains on screen. Born on September 4, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, Worth's early life took an unconventional turn when he earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from the Carnegie Institute of Technology and subsequently served as an Army paratrooper in Kentucky for three years.
Following his military service, Worth moved to Los Angeles, where he honed his craft at the Pasadena Playhouse and appeared in various stage productions. His film debut came in 1966 with the comedy "For Pete's Sake!", followed by smaller roles in movies such as "Scream Blacula Scream" (1973),"The Terminal Man" (1974),"Coma" (1978),and "The Glove" (1979). Worth's standout performance in the latter film as a rugged bounty hunter tossing a blank check to John Saxon is particularly memorable.
Worth's portrayal of a deranged, impotent, and misogynistic Vietnam veteran in the sleazy thriller "Don't Answer the Phone!" (1980) showcased his intense and inspired acting abilities. He also delivered a chilling performance as a vicious homosexual criminal in the made-for-TV drama "The Rape of Richard Beck" (1985).
Throughout his career, Worth appeared in a wide range of films, including "Swamp Thing" (1982),"Darkman" (1990),"Action Jackson" (1988),"Heartbreak Ridge" (1986),"The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" (1988),"Hell Comes to Frogtown" (1988),"The Ladies Club" (1985),and "Armed and Dangerous" (1986). His notable TV appearances include guest spots on "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995),"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993),"The X-Files" (1993),"Night Court" (1984),"Moonlighting" (1985),"Fame" (1982),"MacGyver" (1985),"The Greatest American Hero" (1981),"Knight Rider" (1982),"Hunter" (1984),"Simon & Simon" (1981),"Fantasy Island" (1977),"Charlie's Angels" (1976),"The Rockford Files" (1974),"Quincy, M.E." (1976),"Starsky and Hutch" (1975),"Baretta" (1975),and "Cannon" (1971).
On stage, Worth performed in a variety of productions, from Shakespearean plays to musical comedies. Despite his tough on-screen persona, Worth was a gentle and sweet man in real life, who was also a born-again Christian and an avid power-lifter and bodybuilder. He lent his distinctive growly voice to several video games in his later years. Nicholas Worth passed away on May 7, 2007, at the age of 69, due to heart failure.
