Roger Hill
Born(1948-07-31)July 31, 1948
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 20, 2014(2014-02-20) (aged 65)
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
EducationCity College of New York
OccupationActor
Years active1970–1985
Known forCyrus – The Warriors
Partner(s)Ellen Holly
(1974–1977)
Children1

Roger Hill (July 31, 1948 – February 20, 2014) was an American stage, film and television actor. Beginning his acting career in the early–1970s, Hill is best known for his role as Cyrus in the 1979 action thriller film The Warriors.[1]

Biography

Career

Born in the Bronx borough of New York City, Hill graduated from City College of New York.[2] Hill portrayed the character of Lil John in the 1974 film The Education of Sonny Carson, and took on the role of Ernest Clay[3] in the 1976 television movie Hazard's People starring John Houseman.[4] In 1979, Hill portrayed the role of Cyrus in the 1979 film The Warriors. Hill was chosen to portray the doomed gang lord Cyrus after the original actor chosen for the part, a real life gang leader, mysteriously disappeared just before filming started.[5] After his work in The Warriors, Hill performed in the ABC Daytime soap opera One Life to Live playing the part of Alex Lowndes from 1982–1985.[3][6][7] Hill was in Hart to Hart episode Murder, Murder on the Wall. Aside from his film and television career, Hill appeared in stage productions. Hill was apart of the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop and appeared in Off Broadway along with touring productions of Charles Gordone’s “No Place to Be Somebody,” Ed Bullins’ “The Fabulous Miss Marie” and “Hamlet”.

Later, personal life and death

In later years, Hill retired from acting and worked as a part-time librarian along with writing poetry. In 2005, Hill filed a lawsuit of $250,000 against Take-Two for using his voice and depiction in The Warriors video game. Hill claimed that it would not have been difficult for Take-Two to pay, since the game made $37 million. A spokesman for Take-Two stated that the company "has a valid third-party license for the rights to use Roger Hill's likeness and the character of Cyrus in The Warriors video game and related marketing materials".[8] Hill had a relationship with actress Ellen Holly from 1974 until 1977. Hill never married and had one child, a son. Hill's son, Chris Hill is a film editor. Hill died of a heart attack on February 20, 2014, in The Bronx, New York, aged 65.[2]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1974 The Education of Sonny Carson John 'Lil John'
1979 The Warriors Cyrus
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1976 Hazard's People Ernest Clay TV Movie
1979 One Upon a Classic Chingachgook 1 episode
1980 Doctor Franken Anesthesiologist TV Movie
1982 American Playhouse Second Man At Barbecue 1 episode: "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf"
1982–1985 One Life to Live Alec Lowndes 3 episodes

References

  1. ^ Carmel Dagan (February 25, 2014). "Roger Hill, Who Played in 'The Warriors,' Dies at 65". Variety. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  2. ^ a b O'Connor, Tim (February 26, 2014). "The Warriors' actor, lifelong New Yorker Roger Hill dies at age 65". Daily News (New York). February 26, 2014,
  3. ^ a b "Roger Hill-Filmography-New York Times", Movies & TV Dept., The New York Times, 2014, archived from the original on March 11, 2014
  4. ^ Hal Erickson (2014), "New York Times Overview – Hazzard's People", Movies & TV Dept., The New York Times, archived from the original on March 11, 2014
  5. ^ Roger Hill Interview – The Warriors Movie Website, February 13, 2015
  6. ^ Roger Hill-Filmography-Fandango
  7. ^ Roger Hill-Filmography-All Movie Guide
  8. ^ Jenkins, David (June 27, 2006). "Take-Two/Rockstar Sued By The Warriors Actor". Gamasutra.

External links

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