Sonny Landham, ‘Predator’ and ’48 Hrs’ Actor, Dies at 76

Sonny Landham, the muscular action-movie actor who co-starred in Predator and 48 Hrs., has died. He was 76.

Landham’s sister, Dawn Boehler, said the actor died Thursday from congestive heart failure at a Lexington, Ky., hospital.

Landham was a brawny, deep-voiced actor and stunt man who played a bit part in Walter Hill’s 1979 street-gang thriller The Warriors before the director cast him as the trigger-happy criminal Billy Bear in 1982’s 48 Hrs.

Landham, who was part Cherokee and Seminole, was perhaps best known for playing the Native American tracker Billy Sole in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Predator.

Landham entered the movie business after working in pornography in the 1970s. Later in life, he attempted brief and unsuccessful political campaigns.

Landham is survived by his son, William, and daughter, Priscilla.

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