Actor Buddy Duress from Good Times passes away at the age of 38
Actor Buddy Duress from Good Times passes away at the age of 38 – Actor Buddy Duress, renowned for his roles in films such as ‘Heaven Knows What’ and ‘Good Times,’ sadly passed away in November 2023 at the age of 38.
The cause of death was reported as a “cardiac arrest from a drug cocktail,” as confirmed by his brother Christopher Stathis to People magazine.
Duress’s acting journey began with a breakthrough role in the Safdie brothers’ 2014 film ‘Heaven Knows What.’ His unique path to acting involved meeting Josh Safdie shortly after his release from Rikers Island prison, where he had served time on drug charges.
Despite his tumultuous past, Duress credited his avoidance of a drug in-patient program, a decision that led to his role in ‘Heaven Knows What.’
Reflecting on this, he admitted, “If I had gone to that program, I wouldn’t have been in Heaven Knows What, and I probably wouldn’t be an actor right now. That’s the honest truth. I wouldn’t.”
The Safdie brothers, impressed by Duress’s experiences, had him write a journal about his time behind bars, which became the basis for ‘Good Times,’ a film where he starred alongside Robert Pattinson.
Despite his acting success, Duress faced legal challenges, including an arrest in 2019 for grand larceny and a subsequent return to Rikers Prison. During the same year, he faced legal troubles related to the film ‘Flinch,’ involving threats and charges of criminal possession.
Cameron Van Hoy, the director of ‘Flinch,’ expressed deep sadness at Duress’s passing, describing him as “pure electricity on screen” and acknowledging the challenges he faced in his personal life.
Duress, who was set to appear in the upcoming film ‘Mass State Lottery,’ received posthumous praise from the movie’s director, Jay Karales.
Karales referred to Duress as a “once in a lifetime charismatic actor” and lamented his tragic and untimely loss, comparing him to the late John Cazale, emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of his talent.
