Cliff Emmich was a character actor known for his roles in “Payday” and “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.”
- Died: Monday, November 28, 2022. (Who else died on November 28?)
- Details of death: Died from lung cancer at the age of 85.
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Character Actor
Cliff Emmich made his movie debut in 1969’s “Gaily, Gaily” that starred Beau Bridges. His best-known role may be as the driver ‘Chicago’ in the 1973 film “Payday,” where he drove around a honky tonk singer played by Rip Torn. He played a security guard in “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” with Jeff Bridges. He had a memorable scene in the horror movie “Halloween II.” Michael Landon wrote a character for Emmich in the fifth season of “Little House on the Prairie,” playing a shy overweight man whose daughter was ashamed of him. He was a guest star on many TV series including “Happy Days,” “Coach,” and “Starsky and Hutch.”
Notable Quote
“Coop had this Duesenberg, and he used to go out with the ladies even though he was married.” “He called my dad and said, ‘Cliff, I got the Duesy out in front, and I’m over at this girl’s house, and if all these gossip columnists in town find out about that car, they’ll know I’m upstairs. I got the keys under the front seat, so if you’ll come and get it and drive it over to the lot, I’ll come over and get it or send someone over to pick it up.’” – 2018 interview with A Word on Westerns talking about his father’s exotic car business that sold cars to celebrities such as Gary Cooper
Tributes to Cliff Emmich
Full Obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
