Veteran actor Jack Betts, known for his iconic roles in spaghetti Westerns and as Henry Balkan in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002), passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 19 at the age of 96. He died at his home in Los Osos, California, and the news was confirmed by his nephew, Dean Sullivan.
Betts had a remarkable career that spanned over sixty years across film, television, and stage. Inspired by Laurence Olivier’s performance in Wuthering Heights, he studied theatre at the University of Miami before making his Broadway debut in Richard III. One of his most celebrated stage roles was Dracula, which he performed on Broadway for three years beginning in 1977.
In the 1960s, Betts became a prominent figure in Italian cinema, especially in the spaghetti Western genre. He starred in films such as Sugar Colt (1966), directed by Franco Giraldi. Over the decades, he built a diverse television portfolio, making guest appearances in beloved shows like Seinfeld, Frasier, Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, and My Name Is Earl.
Even into his 90s, Betts continued acting, with recent roles in Recovery Road and Good Trouble in 2019. His appearance as Henry Balkan in Spider-Man, acting alongside Willem Dafoe, became one of his most recognized big-screen performances in later life.
Jack Betts is survived by his sister Joan, nephew Dean, and nieces Lynee and Gail. His legacy lives on through the wide range of characters he brought to life with grace, talent, and quiet charisma.
