Veteran character actor James Sloyan, known for memorable roles in films such as The Sting and Xanadu, as well as his television work on Oh Madeline, has died at the age of 85.
Sloyan died July 22 at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, according to his family, who announced his death over the weekend.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Sloyan built an extensive résumé across film and television. He was also a familiar face to Star Trek fans, appearing five times during the 1990s across Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. His television work extended beyond acting as well: beginning in 1989, he provided the voice for Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus in commercials for 18 years.
Remembered for The Sting and Xanadu
Sloyan appeared in George Roy Hill’s 1973 classic The Sting, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. He played Mottola, a numbers runner working for gangster Doyle Lonnegan, portrayed by Robert Shaw.
His character becomes an important part of the movie’s opening setup after falling victim to a “pigeon drop” con carried out by Johnny Hooker, played by Robert Redford, and Luther Coleman, played by Robert Earl Jones.
In the 1980 musical fantasy film Xanadu, starring Olivia Newton-John, Sloyan portrayed Simpson, the demanding boss of Michael Beck’s character, Sonny Malone, at AirFlow Records.
Role on Oh Madeline
Sloyan also appeared opposite Madeline Kahn on the ABC sitcom Oh Madeline. He played Kahn’s husband, a man who secretly writes steamy romance novels under the pen name Crystal Love.
The series ran during the 1983-84 television season and was the first production from Carsey-Werner Productions. Despite its short run of 18 episodes, it became another notable credit in Sloyan’s long television career.
Early Life and Acting Career
James Joseph Sloyan was born in Indianapolis on February 24, 1941, the youngest of four children. His father, James Sloyan Sr., worked as a construction engineer.
According to his family, Sloyan developed an interest in performance at a young age. When he was just four years old, he attended the Indianapolis State Fair and managed to appear with Western actor Lash LaRue and his traveling Western show.
After spending part of his youth overseas and in Albany, New York, Sloyan attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He later served three years in the U.S. Army before returning to New York to pursue a career in theater.
He worked with Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival, where he acted and also choreographed fight scenes. Actor Henry Winkler later recalled on X that Sloyan had been one of his sword-fighting instructors during drama school.
Sloyan made his Broadway debut in Arthur Kopit’s Indians in 1969. He also appeared in Off-Broadway productions, including Irv Bauer’s A Dream Out of Time.
His screen career began with the 1970 film The Traveling Executioner, starring Stacy Keach.
A Familiar Face on Television
After moving to California in 1973, Sloyan continued building an impressive list of film and television credits. His early work included The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight and appearances on shows such as The Doctors, The Streets of San Francisco, Kojak and Delvecchio.
In 1977, he landed a regular role on the ABC medical drama Westside Medical.
His versatility became especially apparent through his work on the Star Trek franchise. Sloyan appeared as several different characters across three series.
On The Next Generation, he portrayed a Romulan admiral and later played the son of the Klingon character Worf, portrayed by Michael Dorn. He appeared on Deep Space Nine as Bajoran scientist Dr. Mora and on Voyager as Haakonian scientist Ma’bor Jetrel.
His television résumé also included the telefilms The Disappearance of Aimee, starring Faye Dunaway and Bette Davis, and The Billionaires Boys Club.
He made guest appearances on numerous popular series, including Wonder Woman, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Lou Grant, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, Cagney & Lacey, Moonlighting, Murder, She Wrote, Quantum Leap, The X-Files and NYPD Blue.
Family Remembers James Sloyan
In a statement released following his death, Sloyan’s family remembered him as a distinctive and deeply committed person.
“Friends and colleagues remember him always present, always curious, courageous, inventive and loyal as well as brash, mouthy and very urban. He was one-of-a-kind,” the family said.
Sloyan is survived by his wife, actress Deirdre Lenihan, whom he married in 1973, and their two children, Daniel, a musician, and Samantha Sloyan, an actress known for roles including Dr. Penelope Blake on Grey’s Anatomy and appearances in The Life of Chuck.
His brother Patrick Sloyan, an author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, died in February 2019.
James Sloyan leaves behind a remarkably varied body of work, from acclaimed films and Broadway productions to television dramas, sitcoms and his memorable appearances throughout the Star Trek universe.