In Memoriam: Diamonds Are Forever actor Sid Haig (1939-2019)

By: Mark Cerulli

Published:
2019-09-23

FSWL is sad to report yet another member of the Bond screen family has passed away - longtime character actor Sid Haig died in Los Angeles on Saturday, September, 21st at age 80.

While best known for a string of Rob Zombie horror movies including The Devil’s Rejects, Bond fans will remember him as the hulking Slumber Mortuary attendant from Diamonds Are Forever (1971) directed by Guy Hamilton. Sid had one of the more memorable lines in the film – “I got a brotha…” as he drove Bond and “his brother’s” remains in a hearse across the desert.

For such a large (6’4”), intimidating man, Sid was a gentle soul. When shooting the scene where he throws a topless Lana Wood out a hotel window, he told this writer that he “Didn’t want to be disrespectful”.

Of Armenian heritage, Sid grew up in Fresno, California where he displayed an early talent for the drums and quickly found success as a musician in local bands. But his musical interest turned to acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, which led to numerous movie and TV roles throughout the 1960s and 70s where he could be seen in projects like THX 1138, Jackie Brown, Coffy and in American TV series like Gunsmoke, Mission Impossible and Charlie’s Angels. Sid made over 50 movies and dozens of TV appearances in an enviable 40-year career.

Haig reprised his “Captain Spaulding” role in the third installment of Zombie’s Devil’s Rejects franchise, 3 From Hell, which premiered September 19th, 2019 in Hollywood while Sid was still in hospital. When Zombie got up to introduce the film, he spent a lot of time talking about Sid whose iconic character had to be drastically rewritten due to the actor’s illness just 3 weeks before production. Both actor and director wanted him to be a part of the film so instead of a lead, Sid’s role was shortened so he could be filmed in one day. Like the trouper he was, Sid powered through his illness and delivered a haunting performance. “Sid gave it his all,” Zombie said gratefully and led the crowd in hoping the star would make a recovery. Sadly, that was not to be...

Judy Fox, Sid’s former manager had this to say to FSWL:

“Sid was a legend, truly one of a kind. Captivating in every role he played with such genius. Captain Spaulding was perhaps his most iconic and memorable character but he graced every role with brilliance and creative finesse.”

FSWL correspondent Steve Oxenrider broke the unhappy news to Sid’s Diamonds Are Forever co-star, Michael Valente, who played the gum-chewing Slumber Attendant. The actor said:

“While I only worked with Sid one time on Diamonds Are Forever, I found him to be a funny, genuinely likeable guy, in contrast to the type of character he typically played. He could look foreboding, but he was a gentle, sweet man. May he rest in peace.”

Sid Haig, Lana Wood and Michael Valente in Diamonds Are Forever. Copyright © 1971 Danjaq S.A. & United Artists Corporation. All rights reserved.

For more information about Sid Haig and his career, check out his IMDB profile.

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In Memoriam: Diamonds Are Forever actor Sid Haig (1939-2019)

“Sid was a legend, truly one of a kind. Captivating in every role he played with such genius. Captain Spaulding was perhaps his most iconic and memorable character but he graced every role with brilliance and creative finesse.”

“While I only worked with Sid one time on Diamonds Are Forever, I found him to be a funny, genuinely likeable guy, in contrast to the type of character he typically played. He could look foreboding, but he was a gentle, sweet man. May he rest in peace.”

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