‘Dazed and Confused’ Actor Nicky Katt death suspected suicide

Actor Nicky Katt, who was famous for his parts in the beloved movie Dazed and Confused and the TV show Boston Public, was found dead at age 54 in his Los Angeles apartment on April 8, 2025. Police believe his death may have been a suicide, but they did not find a suicide note.

His landlord found Katt’s body hanging in his bedroom; he had been dead for more than a day. The landlord had come by the apartment five days earlier to collect late rent and had noticed the door was open when he returned. The landlord recalled telling Katt he only had a few days to pay it since it was late.

TMZ reported that when the landlord came back after five days, the apartment door was open, and Katt was found hanging in his bedroom. He didn’t leave a suicide note, and he had been dead for over a day by the time he was discovered.

Nicky Katt found hanging by landlord

Katt was born on May 11, 1970, in South Dakota, and he started acting at a young age. His first TV role was in 1980 on Fantasy Island. As a child actor, he appeared in many popular 1980s shows, including CHiPs, Code Red, Herbie, the Love Bug, and Voyagers!, proving early on that he could play different kinds of roles. He moved on to movies, starting with Underground Aces in 1981, and later acted in well-known films like Gremlins, The Burbs, Martians Go Home, and Sister Act.

His big break came when he played Clint Bruno, the high school bully, in Richard Linklater’s 1993 coming-of-age hit Dazed and Confused. This movie made him more famous and put him alongside rising stars like Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck. He worked with Linklater again in subUrbia (1996), Waking Life (2001), and School of Rock (2003).

He also acted in a wide variety of other films, including A Time to Kill, Sin City, Boiler Room (where he played stockbroker Greg Weinstein with Affleck and Vin Diesel), and The Way of the Gun, showing he could handle both funny and serious roles. He teamed up with famous director Steven Soderbergh three times, proving he could work in different styles. His roles in Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia (2002) and The Dark Knight (2008) further showed his range in major films.

Katt was also successful on TV, with parts in many popular shows over the years. One of his most notable roles was as Harry Senate, a geology teacher, in the Fox drama Boston Public. He also appeared in Monk, Law & Order, King of the Hill, and ER, proving he could fit into all kinds of TV genres. His last acting job was in the Hulu series Casual in 2018. In his personal life, Katt was married to Annie Morse from 1999 to 2001.

Katt’s sudden death has shocked both the entertainment industry and his fans. His long career in movies and TV showed his talent and versatility as an actor. While his passing is tragic, it also reminds us how important it is to talk about mental health and make sure help is available for those who need it.