Actor Nicky Katt, known for his roles in “Dazed and Confused” and the Fox series “Boston Public,” died by suicide at his apartment in Burbank, California, on April 8, 2025. He was 54 years old.
Katt’s attorney, John Sloss, confirmed his client’s death to the press on Sunday, April 13, but offered no further details at that time. On Monday, Katt’s family revealed he had died by suicide after a long struggle with depression.
His sister, Elise Ravenscroft, shared with Deadline that Katt had fought depression “bravely but quietly” throughout his life. “This is a pain no family should endure, yet far too many do,” she said. “Mental illness is real, it is powerful, and it is often invisible. We hope that by sharing this, we can help break the silence and stigma that so often surrounds mental health struggles.”
According to reports, Katt’s body was discovered hanging in his apartment by his landlord, who had visited earlier in the week to collect overdue rent and then came back five days later. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office later confirmed the cause of death as suicide. Katt was dead for at least a day before he was found.
Katt, born in South Dakota, began his career as a child actor in 1980, making his screen debut in an episode of “Fantasy Island.” He went on to secure recurring roles in the television series “Herbie, the Love Bug” and voiced the character Leland Lizard in the children’s cartoon “The Get Along Gang.”
As an adult, Katt established himself playing complex characters with a darker edge. He portrayed high school bully Clint Bruno in Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age classic “Dazed and Confused” (1993) and a white supremacist in the 1996 legal drama “A Time to Kill.” His career spanned nearly four decades, with 75 credited roles between 1980 and 2018.
On television, Katt spent three seasons on David E. Kelley’s drama “Boston Public” as Harry Senate, a rebellious geology teacher who brought unexpected depth to what could have been a one-dimensional character. According to sources, Kelley had arranged for Katt’s character to be written out of the show to allow him to pursue his flourishing film career.
Throughout his career, Katt collaborated with numerous acclaimed directors. Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, who worked with Katt on projects including “Planet Terror,” paid tribute to the late actor, describing him as “an absolute joy on and off the camera” and “a true artist.”
In addition to his more prominent roles, Katt appeared in numerous television shows and films including “Love & War,” “Friends,” “Batman & Robin,” “School of Rock,” “Boiler Room,” “King of the Hill,” “Monk,” “Law & Order,” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof.” His filmography also included Steven Soderbergh’s “Full Frontal” and “Solaris,” as well as Robert Rodriguez’s “Sin City.”
His final screen appearance was a guest role on the Hulu comedy series “Casual” in 2018.
In a 2002 interview, Katt spoke about his attraction to complex characters despite occasionally considering more mainstream roles. He reflected on his career choices, saying, “Sometimes I think if I did more sit-ups and went to the tanning salon, I could have a lot more power than I do now. At the end of the day, you do what your gut tells you to do.”
In another interview, Katt had discussed the pressures of working as an actor in Los Angeles, mentioning what he described as the “desperation in the air” and “low-level malevolence” he experienced in the industry.
Katt was previously married to Annie Morse, but they divorced in 2001 after a brief marriage in the late 1990s. He is survived by his sister, Elise Ravenscroft.
In her statement, Ravenscroft emphasized the importance of addressing mental health challenges openly. She encouraged people experiencing depression to reach out for help and asked for privacy as the family grieves.
The news of Katt’s death has prompted discussions about mental health awareness and support in the entertainment industry, where many face unique pressures and challenges.
