Charles Cioffi, Veteran Character Actor, Dies at 90

Charles Michael Cioffi died of natural causes on May 22, 2026, at his Marina del Rey home. The family announced his passing; his wife Anne confirmed the news to TMZ. Sources list his age as 90, though one headline cited 91.

TMZ

Born in New York City on October 31, 1935, Cioffi began his career at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis in the early 1960s and made his Broadway debut in 1968 in *King Lear* with Lee J. Cobb. He appeared in seven Broadway productions, notably the original 1969 *1776*, the 1975 *Hamlet* with Sam Waterston and Jane Alexander, and the 1992 *Chinese Coffee* opposite Al Pacino.

Deadline Hollywood

Cioffi’s screen debut was in 1971 with the thriller *Klute*, playing an executive who is revealed as the killer. That year he also portrayed Lieutenant Vic Androzzi in Gordon Parks’ *Shaft* opposite Richard Roundtree. He later played Pop, Tom Cruise’s father, in the 1983 film *All the Right Moves*. Other film credits include *Time After Time* (1979), *Missing* (1982) and *Newsies* (1992).

Deadline Hollywood

On television, Cioffi debuted on the CBS daytime drama *Where the Heart Is* (1969) and later appeared in guest roles on series such as *Bonanza*, *Kojak*, *Wonder Woman*, *The Six Million Dollar Man*, *Little House on the Prairie*, *Hawaii Five-0*, *Days of Our Lives*, *Law & Order* and *The X-Files*. In *The X-Files* he played FBI Section Chief Scott Blevins, appearing in the pilot, early episodes of season 1 (1993) and again in seasons 4 and 5 (1996-1997).

Forbes

• 1960s – Guthrie Theater debut; Broadway debut in *King Lear* (1968).

Deadline Hollywood

• 1971 – Film debut in *Klute*; role in *Shaft*.

Deadline Hollywood

• 1974 – Guest appearance in *Get Christie Love!* (“Market for Murder”).

Deadline Hollywood

• 1983 – *All the Right Moves*.

Forbes

• 1993-1997 – Recurring role on *The X-Files*.

Forbes

• 1992 – Final Broadway credit, *Chinese Coffee*.

Deadline Hollywood

• 2026 – Death on May 22.

Deadline Hollywood

Anne Cioffi, the actor’s spouse, confirmed his passing to TMZ, describing his death as occurring peacefully at home surrounded by family. No additional comment was provided by representatives of Cioffi’s agencies or studios.

TMZ

While the body of each article lists Cioffi’s age as 90, the Forbes headline describes him as “dies at 91.” The discrepancy appears limited to the headline; all narrative text and other outlets report age 90.

Forbes

Cioffi’s career spanned five decades, delivering supporting roles in landmark films such as *Klute*—which earned Jane Fonda an Oscar—and *Shaft*, a key blaxploitation title. His recurring work on *The X-Files* tied him to the growth of genre television in the 1990s. Industry observers cite his reliability as a character actor who consistently offered nuanced performances across stage, screen and television.

Forbes