It is with great sadness that I have to report that Aliens’ Al Matthews was found dead yesterday in his home at Orihuela Costa. El Pais is reporting that the cause of death has yet to be determined and an autopsy is to be conducted to discover the cause.
Al Matthews, a US actor, singer and former Marine who served in the Vietnam War, was found dead on Sunday inside his house in Orihuela Costa, in the Spanish Mediterranean province of Alicante. He was 75 years old.
A neighbor called the emergency services, who declared him dead, EL PAÍS has learned. An autopsy will determine the cause of death.
Al Matthews is best known to members of the Alien vs. Predator Galaxy community as the amazing Sergeant Apone from Aliens. As well as Aliens, Al’s career included roles in Grange Hill, Superman III and The Fifth Element.
In addition to acting, Al Matthews was also a Vietnam veteran who also achieved the rank of Sargent in the real world. He was also a musician and you can listen to his music on YouTube.
The thoughts of the Aliens vs. Predator Galaxy staff and community go out to Al Matthews’ family and friends in this difficult time. He will be missed. Rest in peace, Al.
Thank you to Conar Murdoch of Building Better Worlds for the news.
I didn't learn about Al Matthews's passing until I came home and opened my Twitter. I know I'm late, but respect is respect. He did a fantastic job playing Apone, and it's incredible knowing he served in Vietnam. Prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends.
He also credits the alien as an actual threat. You didn't feel that the marines were in real danger until he was taken out. "the sarge's gone, let's get the f**k out of here". That entire performance was just to set up the alien as the most dangerous species in the galaxy. If Apone survived the first attack they surely would have mounted a much more creditable defense if not an actual counter attack.
My shit has been secured.
Now and forever.
(copy and pasted from http://www.moviequotedb.com/movies/aliens/character_122.html )
"All right sweethearts, what are you waiting for, breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the corps. A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal is a banquet. Every paycheck a fortune. Every formation a parade. I LOVE the corps!".
The fact he served time in VIETNAM for real (nope not acting, actual military service) and got two purple hearts and a notable promotion while on tour?
Credit to the man.
In fact not to sound PC but I think "THE BLACK PANTHER" (2018) is disrespectful to actors who, in light of what BLACK PANTHER claims, have gone before that MARVEL film hit.
Immediately I thought, reading BP press release, "never have African actors ever had such a limelight front or centre of a film production". My immediate thought was "Excuse me! Spare a thought for Al Matthews he worked on a (mixed race) movie in ALIENS and no-one made a big deal about it. Cause it had more equality and didn't discriminate (positive or negatively) towards race and sex, not even mentioning it or over-compensating. Let alone Al Matthews did military service in VIETNAM".
Bit young to get the Grange Hill (a very long running UK TV drama series about a fictional high school in London) reference but looked it up. Wow that explains why he got the ALIENS gig (cause it was filmed in or near London in the 1980s).
Godspeed, Al.
Keep it tight people.
*Rest in Peace
Joking aside: Damn, this is bad news and makes me very sad due to he was great in aliens and one of my fave icons from the movie and made me interested in the military, and to see him gone and Hudson really sucks.
RIP you badass veteran and space marine, and you will be missed.
The Sarge is gone, man! He's gone! Let's get the f**k out of here!
Classic. Great actor. Wished we'd seen more of him.
Truly broke the mold on you.
" Look into my Eye. "
Rest In Peace, Mr. Matthews. You left an unforgettable mark on 'Aliens'.
RIP
Rest in peace Sarge
Condolences to his family. A most memorable character from the film.
This great picture from the set of Aliens still managed to bring a smile to my face.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bb/a0/7f/bba07fad5e4abcb13059a2b552349b51.jpg
His real-life experience shines through in interviews done with him during the filming of Aliens - I've always fondly remembered a great anecdote he shared about chewing the actors out over their weapons handling. Even if he hadn't admitted as much himself, it'd be obvious he brought a lot of his personal military background to the role of Apone.
It seems in the last few years, the cast of the movies have been passing away. John Hurt, Harry Dean Stanton, Bill Paxton and now Al Matthews.
At least their are immortalized in the roles they played.
Well now I guess he can once again order Bill Paxton around. Hey I'm sure Bill has his slippers waiting for him.