WASHINGTON — Movie star John Heard died Friday in Palo Alto, California, CBS News confirms. He was 72.
Heard was best known for his role as Peter McCallister, the father in the “Home Alone” movies, as well as his role in HBO’s The Sopranos and the toy executive in “Big.”
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JULY 20: Actor John Heard attends The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ Oscars Outdoors Screening Of “Big” on July 20, 2013 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 02: Actor John Heard attends ‘Fathom Events Presents The Premiere Of The Asylum And Syfy’s “Sharknado” screening’ on August 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
(Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JULY 20: Jerry Ross, John Heard and Anne Spielberg attend The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ Oscars Outdoors Screening Of “Big” on July 20, 2013 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JULY 20: Actor John Heard attends The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ Oscars Outdoors Screening Of “Big” on July 20, 2013 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JULY 20: Jerry Ross, John Heard and Anne Spielberg attend The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ Oscars Outdoors Screening Of “Big” on July 20, 2013 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD – NOVEMBER 09: SAG member De Wayne Williams (L) and actor John Heard arrive at the Screen Actors Guild & SAGIndie Breakthrough Filmmakers Party during AFI FEST 2010 presented by Audi held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on November 9, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI)
Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI
HOLLYWOOD – NOVEMBER 14: Actor John Heard, actor Samel L. Jackson and actor Clifton Collins Jr. attend the posthumous presentation of the 2,374th star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame to actor Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez on November 14, 2008 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Actor John Heard died at age 72. Heard was known for his role as Peter McCallister, the father in the “Home Alone” movies.
(Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
An investigation which includes a toxicology test is underway to determine the cause of death, but so far there is no evidence of foul play, the office said.
Heard played Peter McCallister, the father of Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, in “Home Alone” and “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
He was born March 7, 1946, in Washington, D.C., and grew up performing in local theater. One of his memorable early roles was as a disabled Vietnam War veteran in the 1981 film “Cutter’s Way.”
He was active in film for the next decade, playing Tom Hanks’ rival in “Big,” actress Geraldine Page’s son in “The Trip to Bountiful” and in the movies “The Pelican Brief,” ”Beaches,” ”Gladiator,” ”Rambling Rose” and “After Hours.”
He earned an Emmy nomination for playing Vin Makazian in “The Sopranos.”
Other television roles kept Heard busy. He acted in “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” ”Elementary,” ”Prison Break,” ”Modern Family” and “Entourage.” One of his favorite jobs came in the original “Sharknado” television movie in 2013.