It has been reported by a number of different publications that Herbert “Cowboy” Coward, who portrayed Toothless Man in the film Deliverance from 1972, passed away in a vehicle accident on Wednesday.
According to local news sites WLOS and FOX Carolina, which cited authorities from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the crash that took place in Haywood County, North Carolina, resulted in the losses of the 85-year-old man and his passenger, Bertha Brooks, who was 78 years old. The accident also claimed the lives of his beloved Chihuahua dog and his pet squirrel.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol did not immediately react to a request for comment made by People. A representative for the agency did not answer quickly.
If reports are to be believed, Coward was making a right onto the highway when he was struck by an approaching truck driven by a 16-year-old who was subsequently sent to the hospital.
WLOS reported that the officials said that both Coward and Brooks were not wearing seatbelts, and that the young driver was not thought to have been involved in any kind of speeding. There was no filing of charges.
Dorothy Coward, who had been there for 51 years, passed away in September of 2011. In all, they were parents to four children.
The frightening sequence that he shared with his co-star Jon Voight in Deliverance was one of his most unforgettable roles. Additionally, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox were featured in the movie, which was directed by John Boorman. In 1973, the movie received three nominations for the Academy Awards, one of which was for Best Picture.
In the year 2018, the late actor Reynolds spoke with Conan O’Brien regarding his recommendation of Coward for the role.
In the words of John Boorman, an Irish filmmaker who is widely considered to be the finest director I have ever worked with, “Where am I going to find these guys… the Mountain Men?” This is what I said: “I know a guy.” Although he is unable to read, write, or do anything else, I am telling you that if we are able to get him anything, we will have something very remarkable. Therefore, I responded, “Allow me to bring him in.” “He goes by the name Cowboy, and you’ll find out if you like him or not.”
Reynolds claims that he was granted the job on the spot when Coward performed his own interpretation of one of the lines at the audition.
According to Reynolds, he instructed Coward, “Cowboy, just whatever you wanna say, say it.” This occurred while the latter was shooting. He remembered that if they did not like it, they would remove it from their lives. He simply began improvising a hurricane of a performance. They did not forget a single word that he had uttered since it was pure gold.
