Ed Gale, known for playing 'Chucky,' dead at 61
FILE - Actor Ed Gale participates in The Hollywood Show held at Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center on Oct. 6, 2012 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - Actor and stunt performer Ed Gale, famous for playing the horror icon "Chucky" in some of the "Child's Play" films, died at 61, according to TMZ and a relative.
What we know:
A source told TMZ that Gale died Tuesday in hospice in Los Angeles.
What they're saying:
"It is with a heavy heart and a surprisingly light coffin (see what I did there?) that we announce the sudden passing of our uncle... has taken his final bow and is now headlining in the afterlife," his niece, Kayse Gale, said in a Facebook post.
Who was Ed Gale?
The backstory:
According to Kayse, Ed hitched a ride to California when he was twenty years old with only $41.
His other roles include cult classic films like "Howard the Duck" and "Chopper Chicks in Zombietown."
Kayse said her uncle appeared in 130 movies, TV shows, and commercials.
However, his favorite role was being an uncle.
"His love language was sharing his love of the entertainment industry and the magic of Hollywood with his nieces," she continued.
Gale's legal troubles
According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, in 2023, Gale was captured on camera admitting to sexting a 14-year-old boy – allegedly with the intent of meeting for sex.
The citizen group Creep Catching Unit, also known as the CC Unit, confronted Ed Gale on camera – even getting the Hollywood actor to confess to his allegations.
RELATED: 'Chucky' star Ed Gale admits on-camera trying to meet teen for sex
"Yes, I'm admitting I know it was wrong and it was illegal," Gale told the CC Unit during the on-camera confrontation. "I'm admitting that. And I'm sorry."
The CC Unit turned over all the chat logs and evident it had collected to the Los Angeles Police Department. Two officers showed up during the CC Unit's sting operation.
However, an arrest was never made.
The Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles contributed to this report. The information in this story comes primarily from a report by TMZ, which cited a source confirming Ed Gale’s death in hospice care in Los Angeles. Additional details were shared by Gale’s niece, Kayse Gale, in a public Facebook post announcing his passing and reflecting on his life and career. This story was reported from Los Angeles.