Jimmie Skaggs, 59; Actor Had Numerous Roles in Film, Television and on Stage

Actor Jimmie Skaggs died Tuesday in his Highland Park home of lung cancer, according to his wife, actress and director Virginia Morris. He was 59.

Skaggs appeared in numerous film roles, including as the bartender in “Catch Me If You Can,” a drug dealer in “Lethal Weapon,” Smilin’ Phil Fox in “Underworld” and Tom Scully in “Cutthroat Island.”

He co-starred in the 1990 television miniseries “Lucky/Chances” as Whitejack and appeared in many other TV roles, including as a character on “Monk” last week. On stage, among many other roles, he played Eugene in the 1974-79 national tour of “Grease.”

Skaggs, a native of Hot Springs, Ark., was born in 1944, and attended school in Elyria, Ohio. He joined the Air Force and later attended Santa Barbara City College, where he studied speech and drama. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan in 1970 and moved to Chicago. In 1984, he moved to Los Angeles.

In addition to his wife, Skaggs is survived by his mother, Peg Schuster; two sisters; two brothers; and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests that memorial donations be sent to the Jimmie F. Skaggs Fund at First Stage, Hollywood, P.O. Box 38280, Los Angeles, CA 90038.