Wings Hauser, ‘Vice Squad’ Star and Father of ‘Yellowstone’s Cole Hauser, Dies at 77

Wings Hauser, a character actor known for roles in everything from The Young and the Restless to Vice Squad to Richard Pryor‘s JoJo Dancer, Your Life is Calling and father of Yellowstone star Cole Hauser, has died at age 77, according to a Facebook posted shared by the film studio he operated with his wife, Cali. No cause of death was given.

The post reads, “Movie icon Wings Hauser took flight in the arms of his film & music partner, Cali Lili Hauser at their studio this weekend. Born in Hollywood, proud Academy member and prouder son of Academy Award winning writer, director, producer Dwight A. Hauser and loving mother Geraldine T. Hauser, Wings Hauser’s one of a kind, legendary career spanned 58 years in movies, tv & music working alongside many of the greatest artists in the industry and earning their respect. His recent and upcoming releases along with his living wish is handing the torch to the love of his life, Cali, requesting she continue the work embodying their partnership, their love story and honoring his legacy. Wings asks movie and music lovers in lieu of flowers or cards that they please show ongoing support for current and future projects by the award winning sustainable indie film and music studio , a sea-life and butterfly sanctuary hand-built by the Hausers ( Cali Lili Indies ) Cali Lili Indies Pictures Words Music In Motion FeMt0 Studi0 releasing social / environmental justice themed films and songs, as well as monarch butterflies and the source of both title and title track for an upcoming feature length documentary produced by La-La Land Entertainment: “ La-La Land Records

“ Wings Hauser ; Working Claas Actor ”

After beginning his career as a musician, Hauser began seriously pursuing an acting career in his thirties. A 1977-1981 run on The Young and the Restless launched him into larger recognition, as did his appearance in the 1982 cult film Vice Squad. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Hauser appeared in multiple indie action and thriller films a year, and became a cult film hero in the process.

Hauser guest-starred on almost every network show of the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s, from Airwolf and Murder, She Wrote, to Roseanne and JAG, to House and The Mentalist. His last TV appearance was in a 2010 episode of Criminal Minds. In addition t acting, he also wrote the story for the 1983 Gene Hackman film Uncommon Valor. A 1991 Entertainment Weekly profile called him “the biggest star you’ve never heard of.”

Hauser is survived by fourth wife Cali as well as two children, one of whom is Cole. Hauser and Cole’s mother, Cass Warner Sperling, divorced when Cole was two; he reconnected with his father at age 15. In a 2008 interview with FilmFreakCentral, Cole said, “I didn’t know my father until I was about 15. I didn’t really grow up with him but when I moved out to L.A. he let me live with him for a year and we got to know each other a little then. I learned some things as far as the acting world and the business was concerned, but y’know, him being an actor, his career was much different than mine.”