Ed Gale, the actor most recognized for his physical performance as slasher villain Chucky in the Child’s Play films, died. He was 61.
On Wednesday, May 28, TMZ was the first to disclose Gale’s death; the publication stated that the actor died in a hospice in Los Angeles, citing a person who was with him at the time. Gale’s niece, Kayse Gale, revealed Ed’s death in a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 27, describing the actor’s death as “a sudden passing.” The reason for death was not immediately revealed.
“Ed Gale has taken his final bow and is now headlining in the afterlife,” Kayse said in her post, noting that her uncle “hitched a ride to California when he was twenty years old, with $41 and a dream, and he never looked back.”
“He shone on the screen in cult classic films such as Howard the Duck and Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town, earning himself significant recognition at each convention he participated in.” He never ceased bragging about it. “Ever,” Kayse stated in her message. “Throughout his career, he appeared in over 130 films, television series, and advertisements. With this diverse collection of work, he leaves a legacy full of dubious lighting and incredible one-liners. Ed’s favorite role was ‘fun uncle.’ His love language was sharing his passion for the entertainment business and the beauty of Hollywood with his nieces.
A Gale spokesperson did not immediately reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“Ed adored 7-Eleven hotdogs with ridiculous quantities of ketchup. He relished reminiscing about his glory days as a DJ at Plainwell Roller Rink. “He despised Bill Maher for no apparent reason,” Gale’s niece Kayse wrote in her Facebook post. “He enjoyed the gradual build-up of telling a good story and cheating at cribbage.” He was a great laugher and will be missed. Rest in love, cranky b. —— 💕 Final preparations are forthcoming.”
Gale made his film debut in 1986 as one of several actors to physically portray the title character in the 1986 film Howard the Duck; he also appeared in the spoof comedy Spaceballs shortly before stepping into costume to play the villainous Chucky, a doll possessed by a serial killer, in the original Child’s Play and its 1990 sequel.
“Ed was a pleasure to work with on Child’s Play and played an important role in helping me sell the action of Chucky and thus a reason to fear Chucky,” filmmaker Tom Holland, who helmed the original Child’s Play picture, said in a statement. “When I called for action, Ed was always prepared.”
While Brad Dourif voiced Chucky in several Child’s Play films, Gale physically represented him in the two original films as well as Bride of Chucky in 1998.
The actor has also acted in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and The Polar Express, among others. Between 2014 and 2020, Gale did not feature in any films or television shows; his last film appearance was in 2020’s Pandemonic.
Gale became the subject of a Los Angeles police investigation in April 2023 after admitting to a group called Creep Catchers Unit that he had approached some possible kids for sex, as published by the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly. A representative for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office informed PEOPLE on May 28 that a file was submitted to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office in September 2023 for a potential misdemeanor charge.