Herbert ‘Cowboy’ Coward on July 9, 2014.Photo:Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Herbert “Cowboy” Coward, who played Toothless Man in the 1972 filmDeliverance, died in a car crash Wednesday, multiple outlets report.
The 85-year-old and his passenger, girlfriend Bertha Brooks, 78, were killed in the collision that happened in Haywood County, North Carolina, according to local news outletsWLOSandFOX Carolina, citing North Carolina State Highway Patrol officials. His pet Chihuahua dog and pet squirrel also died in the crash.
A spokesperson for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
According to WLOS, authorities said Coward and Brooks were not wearing seatbelts, and the teen driver was not believed to have been speeding. No charges were filed.
Burt Reynolds and Herbert Coward in “Deliverance” (1971).FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty
FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty
Coward’s wife of 51 years, Dorothy,diedin September 2011. They had four children together.
Back in 2018, late actor Reynoldstold Conan O’Brienabout recommending Coward for the part.
“John Boorman, an Irish director, the best director I ever had, said, ‘Where am I gonna find these guys … the Mountain Men?’ And I said, ‘I know a guy. He can’t read and he can’t write or anything, but I’m telling you, if we can get him we got something special.’ So I said, ‘Let me bring him in. His name’s Cowboy, and you’ll see if you like him.’ "
Herbert ‘Cowboy’ Coward on July 9, 2014.Frederick M. Brown/Getty
When Coward delivered his own take on one of the lines during the audition, Reynolds recalls he was given the role on the spot.
During filming, Reynolds said he told Coward, “‘Cowboy, just whatever you wanna say, say it. They’ll cut it out if they don’t like it,’ " he recalled. “He just started ad-libbing up a storm. And they kept every word he said because it was gold.”
source: people.com
