Arthur James “Art” Evans (March 27, 1942 - December 21, 2024) was an American actor who made multiple film and television program appearances over the span of five decades. His acting career started with Frank Silvera's Theater of Being in Los Angeles. He took a starring role in "The Amen Corner," which transferred to Broadway in 1965. His first uncredited acting performance in film was "Claudine" in 1974. His first credited role was in "Chico and the Man" as Bubba in the episode "Too Many Crooks," which aired in 1976. He is probably best known for his role as Leslie Barnes in the action 1990s film "Die Hard 2: Die Harder," in which he plays an air traffic control tower employee. Evans has also appeared in "Fright Night" and "Fright Night II," as well as many appearances in a variety of television shows such as "M*A*S*H" and "Hill Street Blues." In 1984, Evans co-starred in the all-star African-American drama "A Soldier's Story" as the memorable brown-nosing character, Wilkie. His talents for many instruments came in handy when playing Blind Lemon Jefferson in the movie "Leadbelly." Also starred in the music video for Stevie Wonder's "Go Home."

Filmography

• The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder — Charlie (voice)
• 2013Alien Rising — General Tabor
• 2013iSteve — Ol’ Mose
• Last Man Standing — Mort
• 2010Anderson's Cross — Grandfather
• 2010Church: The Movie — Pastor Jones
• 2010House Under Siege — Jack Miller
• 2010Machete Joe — Sammy
• 2008Jada — Howard
• 2008Shades of Ray — Tyler
• Lincoln Heights
• The Sarah Silverman Program — Commander
• 2007Young Cesar
• Everybody Hates Chris — Luther
• 2004Gas — Will
• 2004Never Die Alone — Mr. Waters
• 2003Super Spy: The Final Exit — Willie Ray
• 2003The Watermelon Heist — Mailman
• 2002Interstate 60 — Otis
• Monk — Rusty
• 2001Boys Klub — Father Sal
• 2001Rhapsody — James Tanner
• 2000The Cheapest Movie Ever Made
• 1999After All
• L.A. Heat
• 1998Always Outnumbered — Markham Peale
• Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction — Wally (segment "They Towed My Car")
• 1997Metro — Lt. Sam Baffett
• 1996The Great White Hype — Minister
• 1995Bushwhacked — Marty (uncredited)
• 1995Tales from the Hood — Eli (segment "KKK Comeuppance")
• 1993Bitter Harvest — Earl Yates
• 1993CB4 — Albert Sr.
• The X-Files — Argyle Saperstein
• Walker, Texas Ranger — Walt Taylor
• Mad About You — Ike
• 1992The Finishing Touch — Lieutenant Morman
• 1992Trespass — Bradlee
• Roc — The Repairman
• 1991Solomon Northup's Odyssey — Walton
• 1990Die Hard 2 — Leslie Barnes
• 1990Downtown — Henry Coleman
• Dream On — Dr. Perry
• 1990Mom — Lt. Hendrix
• Doogie Howser, M.D. — Jimmy
• Family Matters — Ben
• 1989The Mighty Quinn — Jump Jones
• 1988School Daze — Cedar Cloud
• A Different World — Mr. Johnson
• 1987White of the Eye — Mendoza
• 1986Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling — Arturo
• 1986Long Time Gone — Neighbor #1
• 1986Native Son — Doc
• 1986Ruthless People — Lt. Bender
• 227
• 1985Fright Night — Detective Lennox
• 1985Handsome Harry's — Speedy Simms
• 1985Into the Night — Jimmy
• 1985Seduced — Cop #1
• 1985Tuff Turf — Security Guard
• 1984A Soldier's Story — Private Wilkie
• 1984The Seduction of Gina — Delivery Man
• 1983Christine — Auto Assembly Worker (uncredited)
• 9 to 5 — Morgan
• American Playhouse — Walton, Doc
• 1982Between Two Brothers — Sanitation Worker
• 1982Class Reunion — Carl Clapton
• World War III — Buford
• 1982Wrong Is Right — Warehouse Guard
• Hill Street Blues — Driver #2, William Teacher, Floyd Joyner
• 1980First Family — Longo's Right Hand Man
• 1980Skag
• 1980The Boy Who Drank Too Much — Intern
• 1979I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings — Principal
• 1979Some Kind of Miracle — Elvis
• 1979The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again — Baggage Master
• 1979The Cracker Factory — Abdul
• 1979The In-Laws — Treasury Truck Driver
• 1979The Main Event — Fighter
• King — A.D. King
• 1978Youngblood — Junkie
• 1977Big Time — Buzz Murdock
• 1977Fun with Dick and Jane — Man At Bar
• 1977Minstrel Man — Tambo
• 1976Leadbelly — Blind Lemon Jefferson
• 1975The Orphan and the Dude — Curtis 'The Dude' Brown
• 1974Amazing Grace — Well-Wisher at Train Station (uncredited)
• Chico and the Man
• 1974Claudine — Young Brother (uncredited)
• 1974Death Wish — Police Officer at Precinct (uncredited)
• Police Woman — Russ Singer
• 1973Sisters — African Room Waiter (uncredited)
• M*A*S*H — Dolan
• Revenge of the Nerds — Wallace Carter

Appearances as themselves (2)

• 2025A Star Without a Star: The Untold Juanita Moore Story — Self
• 2016You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night — Himself