Actor Michael Jeter dies at age 50

Posted Tuesday, April 1, 2003 at 7:40 AM Central

by Tim Briscoe

Veteran character actor Michael Jeter passed away over the weekend at his Hollywood home. He was 50.

The cause of death is not yet known. In 1997, Jeter did announce he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Jeter had nearly completed shooting the animated/live-action film The Polar Express for director Robert Zemeckis with co-star Tom Hanks. The late actor's publicist said the few remaining shots would be done with a stand-in.

Jeter was known for a variety of work on stage, screen and television. His talents won him a Tony in 1990. Jeter's recent film credits include The Green Mile (also with Hanks), Jurassic Park III, and Patch Adams. TV viewers may remember him as Herman Stiles on Burt Reynold's "Evening Shade" series. Younger viewers knew him as Elmo's silent pal "Mr. Noodle" on "Sesame Street".