Kevyn Major Howard, the actor best known for playing Rafterman in the war movie Full Metal Jacket, has died. He was 69.
Howard’s family told TMZ that he died at a Las Vegas hospital surrounded by loved ones on Friday, Feb. 14.
According to the outlet, Howard had been in hospital in the weeks before his death due to respiratory issues. His official cause of death, however, has yet to be determined, Deadline reported.
Howard is survived by his wife Tiffanie and stepdaughter Kayla, as well as his sister Kim and brother Kelsey, per The Daily Mail.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Warner Brothers / courtesy Everett Collection
Howard, who was born in Montreal, Canada, on Jan. 27, 1956, appeared in several TV shows after moving to Los Angeles later in life to act.
According to his IMDB page, Howard’s most notable roles include starring in MacGyver, Magnum P.I., and Miami Vice.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
He also appeared onscreen alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1983 movie Sudden Impact and had worked as an extra in Scarface.
Howard’s last credited onscreen role was in 1999’s Crusade. Alongside acting, the star also built a reputation as a skilled headshot photographer.
Albert L. Ortega/Getty
In a moving tribute shared on X, Matthew Modine posted a photograph of himself, Howard and their Full Metal Jacket costars.
“Kevyn Major Howard gave and gave and gave so much to the world and especially the men and women of our armed forces,” Modine wrote. “He became famous for his role of ‘Rafterman’ in Stanley Kubrick’s FULL METAL JACKET.”
“His portrayal gave him a unique entrée into the world of the US Marine Corps,” he continued. “This led him on a decades-long journey to be in service of our nation’s bravest.”
“Thank you for your dedication to others and to America. May all the gods bless you Kevyn. Rest in peace. #SemperFidelis,” Modine added.
Read the full article here
