Jack Betts, the seasoned actor known for his roles in spaghetti Westerns, classic soap operas, and blockbuster films like Spider-Man and Gods and Monsters, has passed away at the age of 96. He died peacefully in his sleep on June 19, 2025, at his home in Los Osos, California, as confirmed by his nephew Dean Sullivan.
A Long and Varied Career Across Film, TV, and Stage
Jack Betts, also known by his stage name Hunt Powers, enjoyed a wide-ranging career that spanned over six decades. He starred in everything from Broadway productions and Italian Westerns to daytime soap operas and Hollywood hits.
He made his film debut in The Bloody Brood (1959), then gained recognition in the CBS series Checkmate (1961) as detective Chris Devlin. But it was his pivot to European cinema that carved out a unique chapter in his career. In 1966, Betts took on the lead role in Sugar Colt, a spaghetti Western directed by Franco Giraldi. He was billed as Hunt Powers for the role—an alias given to him by actress-turned-publicist Helen Ferguson. Though he wasn’t an experienced cowboy, he bluffed his way into the role by claiming he could ride horses and shoot, learning those skills in just three weeks at John Wayne’s ranch.
His run in spaghetti Westerns spanned about 15 films through 1973. Yet, unlike Clint Eastwood, whose films had worldwide distribution, Betts’ Westerns found limited audiences, often missing out on Canadian and American markets.
A Memorable Moment in Spider-Man
Modern audiences may recognize Betts from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002). He played Henry Balkan, a member of Oscorp’s board, who confronts Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) with the infamous line, “You’re out, Norman.” That pivotal moment set up one of the film’s major turning points, as Norman—revealed to be the Green Goblin—later annihilates the board members during a chaotic attack in Times Square.
A Fixture in Soap Operas and Television
Betts became a familiar face to television viewers, especially in the soap opera world. From 1979 to 1985, he portrayed Dr. Ivan Kipling on ABC’s One Life to Live. His soap opera credits also included roles on General Hospital, Guiding Light, All My Children, The Edge of Night, The Doctors, Another World, Search for Tomorrow, Loving, and Generations.
Beyond soaps, Betts made appearances in iconic TV shows such as Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Kojak, The F.B.I., Frasier, Remington Steele, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, My Name Is Earl, The Mentalist, and Monk.
Theater Roots and Dracula on Broadway
Betts had a deep connection to theater. After studying at the University of Miami and acting in Cuba in the play Light Up the Sky, he moved to New York. His break came when a friend asked him to help with an audition for The Actors Studio, which led to a scholarship from Lee Strasberg.
He appeared on Broadway in 1953 in Richard III alongside José Ferrer and later worked with legendary director Elia Kazan in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Sweet Bird of Youth. In the late 1970s, he returned to Broadway for the revival of Dracula, playing Dr. Seward and stepping in once as Count Dracula—an experience he cherished.
In Gods and Monsters (1998), Betts portrayed Boris Karloff, further embracing the gothic horror world that had touched his career earlier.
A Lifelong Friendship with Doris Roberts
Betts formed a close bond with Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts. The two met in 1954 at The Actors Studio and became inseparable friends. In 1988, Betts moved into the downstairs apartment of Roberts’ Hollywood Hills home, and they shared a life filled with companionship and artistic collaboration until her passing in 2016. Roberts even directed a play Betts had written, Screen Test: Take One, centered on a soap opera born on a movie set.
Early Life and Inspiration
Jack Fillmore Betts was born on April 11, 1929, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He later moved to Miami, Florida, with his family. At age 10, after watching Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights (1939), he felt inspired to pursue acting. He graduated from Miami Senior High School and studied theater at the University of Miami before heading to New York to begin his professional journey.
Interestingly, Betts claimed he was related to Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States.
Legacy and Survivors
Jack Betts never married but left behind a legacy of diverse and memorable performances. Along with his nephew Dean Sullivan, he is survived by his two nieces, Lynne and Gail, and his sister, Joan, who turns 100 in November 2025.
With an enduring passion for performance and a career that crisscrossed genres, mediums, and continents, Jack Betts leaves behind a body of work that will continue to be appreciated by generations of film and television fans.
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