LOS OSOS, CALIFORNIA — Jack Betts, a beloved character actor whose career ranged from Broadway to spaghetti westerns and “Spider-Man,” died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday at 96, People Magazine reported.
Born in Jersey City and raised in Miami, Betts discovered his passion for acting after seeing Laurence Olivier on screen. He made his Broadway debut in “Richard III” before becoming a fixture in Italian westerns under the stage name Hunt Powers during the 1960s, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The actor later returned to Broadway, portraying Dracula from 1977 to 1980, and transitioned back to TV and film, with notable roles on “Seinfeld,” “Frasier,” “Friends” and a memorable turn as Henry Balkan in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man in 2002, People reported.
Betts also shared a close friendship and home with actress Doris Roberts until her death in 2016, a bond remembered by colleagues at the Beverly Hills Playhouse as one marked by warmth and mentorship, The Hollywood Reporter said.
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