Still working to get official confirmation and cause of death, but I can report from sources that veteran actor Nicky Katt has passed away, at age 54. Katt will quickly to mind for his memorable turn as the high school Texan tough Clint Bruno, who picks a fight with Adam Goldberg’s Mike Newhouse, gets a beer poured over his head, and pummels the existentially tortured teen in Rick Linklater’s 1993 gem Dazed and Confused.

He was a go-to guy for Linklater and a coterie of filmmakers that includes Steven Soderbergh, Christopher Nolan, Robert Rodriguez and David Gordon Green. Each cast Katt on multiple occasions. He is also remembered for his role as Harry Senate in several seasons of Boston Public. His specialty seemed to be edgy tough guys, roles he played in films including A Time to Kill and Boiler Room. His memorable film roles include The Way of the Gun, SubUrbia, Insomnia, School of Rock, the Woody Allen play A Second Hand Memory. And many others.

It’s always a challenge to confirm sad news like this on a weekend. When more information comes in, along with tributes from directors and actors who worked with the well-liked actor, we will add them to this post.  

Here’s that scene with Katt, Goldberg, and you’ll notice Matthew McConaughey, Cole Hauser and numerous other bright young actors whose careers were launched by Dazed and Confused: