Actor Buddy Duress, famed for his roles in “Good Time” alongside Robert Pattinson and “Heaven Knows What,” has passed away at 38. His brother, Christopher Stathis, disclosed the cause of death on Tuesday, February 27.
Buddy Duress passed away in November 2023 due to “cardiac arrest from a drug cocktail,” as confirmed by Stathis on Tuesday.
Filmmaker Jay Karales, who directed Duress in “Mass State Lottery,” announced his death on Twitter on February 23. The film is scheduled for release later this year.
In an emotional tribute, the director said:
“This man was an absolute treasure. Without a doubt, Buddy Duress was one of the most entertaining people I’ve ever met and his stories were unrivaled.
“I remember seeing him in Good Time in 2017 and saying, ‘That is what the future of acting needs to be. That guy.’ He brought a certain authenticity and charisma to the screen that you just don’t see anymore.”
“It was a dream to get him into Mass State Lottery, and I feel privileged to have been his director and his friend.”
The actor had led an unconventional life compared to most movie stars, having been incarcerated at least 10 times on charges ranging from heroin possession to identity theft.
During the premiere of “Heaven Knows What” at the New York Film Festival in 2014, Duress was reportedly at the infamous Rikers prison. He had been recruited for the film while on the run, rather than attending a drug in-patient program.
He previously told:
“You know, I still look back at it. If I had gone to that program, I wouldn’t have been in Heaven Knows What, and I probably wouldn’t be an actor right now. That’s the honest truth. I wouldn’t.”
After the completion of the movie, Duress returned to Rikers Island. Directors Benny and Josh Safdie tasked him with writing a journal about his experiences behind bars, which was later adapted into “Good Time.”
Fans shared tributes on social media with one saying,
“A harsh life on the streets gave his acting a next-level authenticity and rawness. A real loss. RIP”.
Others praised him for his role in Good Time:
“Recently found out Buddy Duress passed away. What an incredible loss. I don’t think anyone has embodied the energy of the Bronx more than he did in Good Time.”
Karales told:
“What happened is a tragic and frustrating loss of visceral talent. He lived like a cowboy and carrying the weight of that kind of life informed his skills and performances in a way that made him irreplaceable as an actor.”
