Actor Nicky Katt was found dead in his Burbank apartment on Apr. 8, just over a month before his 55th birthday. Now, his official cause of death has been revealed as suicide.
According to law enforcement sources, Katt died by hanging. In a statement shared with Deadline, Katt’s sister Elise Ravenscroft confirmed that her brother’s death was by suicide: «Today, with the heaviest of hearts, I share the devastating news of my brother’s passing. He died by suicide after battling with depression—one that he fought bravely but quietly. This is a pain no family should endure, yet far too many do. Mental illness is real, it is powerful, and it is often invisible. We hope that by sharing this, we can help break the silence and stigma that so often surrounds mental health struggles.»
She continued, «In this moment of grief, we kindly ask for compassion—not only for our family as we mourn this unimaginable loss—but for every person who is silently struggling. We also ask for privacy to navigate this tragedy and begin the process of healing. If you or someone you know is experiencing depression, please reach out. You are not alone, and help is available. Let us honor my brother’s memory by approaching one another with greater understanding, kindness, and care.»
Katt was best known for his breakthrough role of Clint Bruno in Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age comedy movie Dazed and Confused (1993), which follows a group of teenagers on the last day of school in 1976. Following his death, Linklater paid tribute to the actor with the following message: «Nicky had a deep love for the character actors of cinema history, and I think saw himself that way. When I was auditioning actors for Dazed and Confused, I’d ask them what character in the ensemble they most related to or were interested in, and the majority talked about the bigger parts, naturally. Nicky said he liked Clint. I almost didn’t know what he was talking about, ‘you mean the 17th largest part in the movie?’ ‘Yeah.'»
The director continued, «He made something unique out of it, bringing his wicked humor, unpredictability, and smoldering quality to it. We worked up an entirely new scene for him and Matthew talking about car engines. I think he probably over-filled all his roles, which makes him memorable. Maybe he over-filled his life too, which, while often exasperating to those closest to him, makes him someone you’ll never forget. That brilliant spark will be missed.»
Katt was also known for his appearances in popular television shows like Fantasy Island, CHiPs, Father Murphy, Trapper John, M.D., and V, among others. On the big screen, his credits include Gremlins, The ‘Burbs, Martians Go Home, and Sister Act. The actor is also remembered for playing Harry Senate in the first three seasons of the Fox drama Boston Public. He also did voiceovers for the video game Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.
