R.I.P Art LaFleur, actor in baseball classics ‘The Sandlot’ and ‘Field of Dreams’

The Indiana native also appeared in M*A*S*H and Hill Street Blues among many others.

The Everett Collection

Born in Gary, Indiana in 1943, Art LaFleur’s Hollywood career wouldn’t come to fruition for over 30 years. He worked as a salesman among other things before moving to California to try and make it in show business. In all, he had more than 150 movie and TV credits over a 40-year career. He was 78 when he passed.

LaFleur’s very first screen role came as Ivan the Russian spy in the 1978 TV movie Return to Gilligan’s Island. He soon became a go-to TV character actor appearing in Charlie’s Angels, Lou Grant and M*A*S*H as a Military Police officer in the memorable episode “Father’s Day.”

His first feature film role was a small part in the Tony Danza-Michelle Pfeiffer car flick The Hollywood Knights.

LaFleur acted consistently on TV throughout the 1980s, appearing in Soap, The Incredible Hulk, Benson, The A-Team and Hill Street Blues. He also won roles in many movies like Trancers, the Sylvester Stallone film Cobra and the 1988 remake of The Blob. One of his most famous roles came at the end of the decade when he played the ghost of White Sox first baseman Chick Gandil in Field of Dreams.

Four years later, LaFleur played another athlete apparition when he donned the famous Yankees pinstripes as a pep-talking Babe Ruth who inspired the kids in The Sandlot with the line “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.”

LaFleur appeared in many Nineties shows like Home Improvement, Tales from the Crypt, Matlock, Baywatch and ER. He continued his character work throughout the 2000s in everything from Malcolm in the Middle to House.

He also appeared in movie sequels like Beethoven’s 4th and as the Tooth Fairy in The Santa Clause 2 and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

Art’s wife, Shelley, posted a loving tribute on Facebook remembering her husband as “a generous and selfless man which carried over to his acting but more importantly it was who he was for his family and friends. Every location or set we visited him on, the cast and crew would introduce themselves and tell Molly, Joe, and me how Art spoke of us with such pride and love. I was so very lucky to have had a 43-year relationship with a man who cherished me and who I adored. Art was larger than life and meant the world to us.” 

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12 Comments

Matsui 26 months ago
I remember a Tales From The Crypt episode were he played a policeman, also in the episode was former Superman star Christopher Reeves. Subject Matter Was Eating Human Meat. RIP ART.
jacko3 31 months ago
May GOD Bless the Life & Legacy of Art LaFleur * Amen - Alleluia!
DonnaNMI 33 months ago
Art was also the Tooth Fairy in The Santa Clause 2
DIGGER1 34 months ago
So long, Art. Take good care of yourself in Heaven, and make sure that you watch out for those "GOLDEN BB's" that you always talked about in "AIR AMERICA(1990)", you hear? LOL!

R.I.P., ART LAFLEUR(B.09/09/1943-D.11/17/2021).
CaptainDunsel 34 months ago
I first really took notice of Art LaFleur in the mid 80's with the cult sci-fi films he did (with Tim Thomerson) for Full Moon Entertainment, such as "Trancers" and "Zone Troopers". (Poor "Mittens" never could convince his buddies that he really *did* punch Hitler in the face.)
Many great performances in the years before and after. He will be missed.
NarberthBoy 34 months ago
Art was also in a Van Damme movie remember?
Zip 34 months ago
One of those actors whose name you don't know, yet you see him in everything. RIP.
BrittReid 34 months ago
R.I.P Art LaFleur. Talented actor and great family man. He happened to appear in two of my favorite comedies The Hollywood Knights and Cobra.
LoveMETV22 34 months ago
R.I.P Art LaFleur. What a likeable actor. Art LaFleur, died Nov. 17 after a decade-long battle with Parkinson’s disease according to the posts on him.
Runeshaper 34 months ago
R.I.P Art LaFleur. He was a GREAT actor and it sounds like he was a great family man as well (-:
15inchBlackandWhite 34 months ago
One of those actors who you may not have known his name, but you always recognized his face. Will always think of him in Field of Dreams telling Ty Cobb to stick it! RIP.
Dario 34 months ago
Rest in peace, Art. He was also terrific in TV commercials, too! 📺😁
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