Actor and professional wrestler Scott L. Schwartz has died after a several-year-long health struggle.
The news was shared by friend and colleague Rick Zahn on Facebook on Tuesday:
Today the world lost a good man. The acting community lost a terrific actor. The law enforcement community in Los Angeles lost a good ambassador and community spokesperson. The breast cancer community lost a staunch supporter. A woman lost a devoted husband. And I lost a dear friend, Scott Schwartz.
At 6’10”, Scott was one of the rare few I looked up to. But it wasn’t just because he was actually taller. It was because of his heart. He lived life with passion. And he adored his wife, Misty.
Scott has battled ill health these past couple of years. But with Misty at his side, Scott peacefully transitioned. The suffering is over.
Please join me in extending sincere condolences to Misty and Scott’s family. This one hurts. And while Thursday is going to be tougher this time, I am still grateful that this big-hearted lug touched my life. Thanks, Scott, for giving me one more reason to understand the meaning of HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Schwartz had a lengthy list of film roles but in 1977, he had hopes of becoming a professional wrestler and trained under Walter “Killer” Kowalski and would launch his career wrestling as Giant David.
Later in his career, he became “The Israeli Commando” Joshua Ben-Gurion before getting involved with acting and stunt work.
His resume would include roles in Ocean’s Eleven as “Bulldog The Bruiser” and reprised his role in Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen. Schwartz also received credits in Nash Bridges, The Scorpion King, Spider-Man, Starsky and Hutch, The Young and Restless, and Fun with Dick and Jane.
In 1991, he had several matches for Herb Abrams’ UWF and won the UWF Israeli championship, which was one of the group’s many championships.
Schwartz was a staunch advocate for breast cancer awareness after losing his sister to the disease in 1998 with SLAM Wrestling’s Greg Oliver noting:
Schwartz’s humanitarian works were acknowledged through the years, including the 2012 CHOC Glass Slipper Award. The Atlantic City Cinefest presented him with its Lifesaver Achievement Award in 2016, and the Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. Schwartz received the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Reel Award in 2006.
Schwartz was 65 years old and is survived by his wife, Misty, and his two children, Angela and Adam.
