Gerald Castillo, ‘Saved by the Bell’ and ‘General Hospital’ actor, dead at 90
Gerald Castillo, who starred in “General Hospital” and “Saved by the Bell,” has died at 90.
The actor died May 4 in his Houston home, his wife, Dayna Quinn-Castillo, confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter.
Castillo starred in the ABC daytime soap opera “General Hospital” from 1992 to 1994, and also appeared in “MAS*H,” “Night Court,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “All in the Family.”
Most notably, he played A.C. Slater’s father, Major Slater, in the iconic ’90s series “Saved by the Bell” from 1989 to 1992.
Born Dec. 23, 1932, Castillo launched his career in the arts at the Goodman Theater in his hometown of Chicago. According to the Hollywood Reporter, he studied acting and stage direction there in the ’60s before performing with the likes of Rita Moreno, James Broderick and Jeanne Crain
Fellow actor Sherman Hemsley, who died more than a decade ago, reportedly convinced Castillo to seriously pursue an on-screen career in Los Angeles, where he landed his first gig in 1978 on “The Jeffersons.”
He went on to appear in a slew of television productions as well as feature films, such as “Through Naked Eyes” (1983), “Death Wish 4: The Crackdown” (1987) and “Above Suspicion” (1995).
Castillo worked in California theaters in partial retirement and was considered “a charismatic and insightful director,” his wife said. He eventually left on-screen acting entirely in 2012 before moving to Houston.
He is survived by his grandchildren, Brian and Stephanie, and great-grandsons, Allen and Bernie.
