Angus MacInnes

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For the footballer, see Angus McInnes.

Angus MacInnes
MacInnes in Star Wars (1977)
Born(1947-10-27)27 October 1947
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Died23 December 2024(2024-12-23) (aged 77)
Edinburgh, Scotland
OccupationActor
Years active1975–2016

Angus MacInnes (27 October 1947 – 23 December 2024) was a Canadian actor of film and television.[1] He appeared in over 80 film and television productions between 1975 and 2016, but was best known for his roles as Jon "Dutch" Vander (Gold Leader) in Star Wars, and as former hockey great Jean "Rosey" LaRose in the cult comedy Strange Brew.

Early life

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Of Scottish descent, MacInnes was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, the son of John and Kate MacInnes.[2][1] He graduated from the University of Windsor's drama program in 1971,[2] after which he moved to England on a scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the first Canadian to ever be admitted.[2]

Career

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MacInnes played supporting parts in a variety of British, Canadian, and American productions from the 1970s through the 2010s. He worked in repertory theatre before making his film debut in Rollerball (1975), playing the bodyguard of James Caan's character. MacInnes later credited the positive experience of working with director Norman Jewison with convincing him to pursue film acting full-time.[3] He said in a 2010 interview, "I spent a lot of time on set simply watching and learning. In one sense it was like doing a post grad crash course in the techniques and subtleties of acting for the camera. I fell in love with film work, it’s technical demands and creative possibilities."[3]

In 1977, MacInnes played arguably his best-known role, as Rebel pilot Jon "Dutch" Vander (Gold Leader) in the original Star Wars.[4][5] He remained closely identified with the part throughout the rest of his career, and was a fixture at Star Wars Celebration conventions and other fan events.[4][5] He reprised the part nearly 40 years later, through a mix of archive footage and newly recorded audio, in the Star Wars spin-off Rogue One (2016).[4][5]

MacInnes reunited with his Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford in two other films, as a US Army officer in Force 10 From Navarone (1978) and a corrupt cop in Witness (1985).

His other notable roles included gangster seeking stolen cocaine in Atlantic City, former hockey great Jean "Rosey" LaRose in the comedy Strange Brew, a detective in Hellbound: Hellraiser II, a Judge in the comic book adaptation Judge Dredd, a gateman in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, Sarge in Hellboy, a police captain in The Black Dahlia, and a Maersk Alabama crewman in Captain Phillips.[6] He also appeared on the BBC Scotland soap River City as Sonny Munro.

Personal life

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In addition to his acting career, MacInnes ran a pizzeria, Mamma's American Pizza, in Edinburgh.[7] He had a wife, Katy, two children, and a granddaughter.[2]

Death

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MacInnes died on 23 December 2024, at the age of 77.[4][5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Rollerball Jonathan's guard Uncredited
1977 Star Wars Jon "Dutch" Vander (Gold Leader)
1978 Force 10 From Navarone Lieutenant Doug Reynolds
1980 Nothing Personal Military policeman #2
Atlantic City Vinnie
Superman II The Warden
1981 Dirty Tricks FBI agent Jones
Outland Hughes
1982 If You Could See What I Hear Policeman
Murder by Phone Laboratory guard
The Sender Sheriff Prouty
1983 Strange Brew Jean LaRose
Spasms Duncan Tyrone
1984 Best Revenge Wayne
1985 Witness Sergeant Leon "Fergie" Ferguson
1986 Half Moon Street Bill Rafferty
1988 Hellbound: Hellraiser II Detective Bronson
Honor Bound Jessup
1989 Gross Anatomy Dean Torrence
1990 The Krays Palendri
1992 Spies Inc. Vic
1995 Judge Dredd Council Judge Gerald Silver
1999 Eyes Wide Shut Gateman #1
Operation Delta Force 4: Deep Fault Professor Walter Hill
2000 Rhythm & Blues Bad Daddy
2001 Enigma Commander Hammerbeck
The 51st State "Pudsey" Smith, The Chemist
2002 Amen. Tittman
2004 Hellboy Sergeant Whitman
2005 The Jacket Judge
2006 The Black Dahlia Captain John Tierney Credited as Angus MacInnis
2007 Flight of Fury General Tom Barnes
Dach Security guard
2013 Captain Phillips Ian Waller
2015 Elstree 1976 Himself
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Jon "Dutch" Vander (Gold Leader) Archive footage with newly recorded audio[8]

Television

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Year Title Episode(s) Role Notes
1977 Space: 1999 Season 2, episode 22, Devil's Planet Jelto
1980 The Littlest Hobo Season 1, episode 20, "Escape" A henchman Aired March 27th, 1980
1988 The New Statesman Season 1, episode 5, "Friends of St. James" Captain Hirsch
1998 Space Island One 25 episodes Lieutenant Commander Walter B. Shannon
2013 Vikings Season 1, episodes 6 & 7 Tostig

References

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  1. ^ a b Salem, Zena (2 January 2025). "Windsor, Ont., actor known for role in Star Wars, dies at age 77". CBC News.
  2. ^ a b c d "Obit: Windsor-born Star Wars actor remembered for 'prolific' film career". windsorstar. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Angus MacInnes Interview", ''Star Wars Interviews'', September 2010
  4. ^ a b c d "Star Wars actor dies as tributes pour in for beloved star". LBC. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Dunn, Jack (30 December 2024). "Angus MacInnes, Who Appeared in 'Star Wars', Dies at 77". Variety. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  6. ^ Thomas, Carly (31 December 2024). "Angus MacInnes, 'Star Wars' Actor, Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  7. ^ "About Us". Mamma's American Pizza. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  8. ^ Fullerton, Huw (19 December 2016). "Rogue One: How X-wing pilot footage from Star Wars: A New Hope was used in the Star Wars anthology film". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
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