Max Payne actor James McCaffrey has died aged 65, according to a report by TMZ.
TMZ published a statement from a rep revealing McCaffrey passed away Sunday, December 17, surrounded by friends and family after a battle with bone marrow cancer.
“One of Dick Wolf’s proteges, McCaffrey went on to a successful 35-year career in television and film. Trained at the Actor’s Studio, he never lost his love for creating characters; however, his good looks often pushed him toward leading man roles,” said McCaffery’s representative to TMZ.
Kevin Dillon, who played Johnny “Drama” Chase in HBO comedy series Entourage, was first to report McCaffrey’s death in a post on Instagram, saying: “we were lucky to have known you. My best friend you will be missed.”
McCaffrey played Max Payne across Remedy’s three-game series, as well as roles in other Remedy games, such as Alan Wake and Control. Most recently, McCaffrey was the voice of Alan Wake 2’s Alex Casey, a character with a physical appearance based on Remedy’s Sam Lake.
Remedy issued its own statement in a post on X/Twitter: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our beloved friend and collaborator James McCaffrey, the iconic voice of Max Payne and Alex Casey. His remarkable talent gave life to our characters and left an enduring impact on our community. Our hearts go out to his family.”
I’m heartbroken to hear the sad news of James McCaffrey’s passing. We worked together for more than 25 years. He was a lovely man and a dear friend. He was a key part of the Remedy family. He was a brilliant actor. No one could do what he did better than him. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/JLcEIMUT43
— Sam Lake (@SamLakeRMD) December 18, 2023
Remedy’s Sam Lake said he was “heartbroken”. “We worked together for more than 25 years. He was a lovely man and a dear friend. He was a key part of the Remedy family. He was a brilliant actor. No one could do what he did better than him. James was Max Payne, Thomas Zane, Zachariah Trench and finally Alex Casey. I had the honor of sharing Max Payne’s role and Casey’s role with him. He was a joy to work with. I will cherish his memory and I miss him. My deepest condolences to his family. Rest in peace, Jim.”
Rockstar Games, which published the Max Payne series, also issued a statement, saying: “Rest in Peace James McCaffrey, the inimitable and commanding presence who brought Max Payne to life.”
McCaffrey also had a varied TV and film career, including playing Jimmy Keefe in Rescue Me. McCaffrey is survived by his wife Rochelle Bostrom and daughter Tiernan.
Image credit: Photo by John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.