RD Call, known for roles in ‘Born on the 4th of July’, ‘Waterworld’ and ‘Last Man Standing’, dies aged 70
Character actor Roy Dana Call (better known as R. D. Call) died on February 27 at the age of 70. The actor known for his roles in ‘Born on the Fourth of July’, ‘Waterworld’, ‘Last Man Standing’ and ‘Murder by Numbers’, reportedly succumbed to complications from back surgery in Layton, Utah.
Call was born on February 16, 1950. He grew up in Layton (his final resting place). In 1968, he graduated from Davis High School, where as a senior he won a state acting competition by portraying Stanley Kowalski in a scene from ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’.
Call studied theater at Utah State University and Weber State University, following which, in 1975, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he joined Lee Strasberg's acting school and Lonny Chapman's L. A. Repertory Theater Group.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Call has acted alongside thespian Sean Penn in films like ‘At Close Range’, ‘Colors’, ‘State of Grace’, ‘The Weight of Water’, and ‘I Am Sam’.
On television, Call played the role of Michael ‘Fivers’ Dugan on the CBS drama ‘EZ Streets’, and starred in the CBS Stephen King miniseries ‘Golden Years’.
“R. D. was as tough as nails on the outside but a real gentleman on the inside. He could be very intimidating at first sight or even a little scary to some. But once you got to know him, his directness turned into a kind fondness for getting to know people. He was who he was, honest, direct, genuine and funny...there was no pretense or phoniness,” his family said.
Talking about his addiction, Call’s family said, “At one point he was at what he called 'rock bottom' and was heading either to possible suicide or recovery. Thanks to God he chose recovery and went into hospital rehab for many months. Coming out sober, R. D. joined Alcoholics Anonymous and celebrated his 26th year of sobriety this year. Last year he received his 27th-year chip in Los Angeles.”
Call’s family further said, “He was very proud and we were also very proud of his accomplishments to remain alcohol-free. Last year he even gave up smoking! He was a fighter all off his life. R. D. devoted his life to A. A. to helping himself and others to fight the fight and sponsored many friends who also won that battle. Roy has made hundreds of good friends in his association with A. A. God bless his good work. It really became his religion and he adhered to the 12 principles all his older adult life.”
Call is survived by his brother, Rick; his sisters, Quay and Cindy; his uncle, Lane; and his aunt, Evelyn.