Michael J Pollard, Oscar-nominated 'Bonnie and Clyde' actor, dies at the age of 80
Michael J. Pollard, perhaps best remembered for his oscar-nominated role as the lovable sidekick C. W. Moss in the 1967 film ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ died November 20. According to the Washington Post, the 80-year-old actor died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Los Angeles.
The news of his death was announced on Facebook by filmmaker and musician Rob Zombie, who directed Pollard in ‘House of 1000 Corpses’. He wrote, “Another member of our ‘House of 1000 Corpses’ family has left us. The great Michael J. Pollard has died.”
Zombie added, “I have been a huge fan of Michael since I first saw him on the ‘Star Trek’ (episode) 'Miri'. He was amazing in everything from ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ to ‘Little Fauss and Big Halsy’ from ‘Dirty Little Billy’ to ‘The Four of the Apocalypse’. 20 years ago he was one of the first actors I casted in ‘1000 Corpses’. He was a hoot and will be missed.”
Born on May 30, 1939, in Passaic, New Jersey, as Micheal John Pollack Jr., Pollard, according to the Washington Post obituary, excelled at playing imps, half-wits and outright weirdos. He studied at Montclair Kimberley Academy and trained at the Actors Studio in New York City.
In 1966, at the age of 27, Pollard was hired as a guest star on ‘Star Trek’, playing the role of Jahn in the episode ‘Miri’. While the script called for a 14-years-old actor, Pollard got the part because his agent convinced the show's producers he looked like a teenager.
According to Daily News, when an actor Michael Fox tried to register with the Screen Actors Guild in the late 1970s, he was told there was already an actor by that name. Even though Fox’s middle name was Andrew, he decided to go by Michael J. Fox, as a homage to Pollard.