10th August, 2023
Robert Swan, actor in “Hoosiers,” “Rudy,” “The Untouchables” and “Natural Born Killers” has lost his long battle with cancer.
He died peacefully at his home on Wednesday morning.
His wife Barbara who confirmed the incident noted that he died at age 78.
“Although he had many years of being in pain and otherwise incapacitated, he never gave up the drive,” Barbara stated.
Swan’s good friend Betty Hoeffner also confirmed the development to Fox News Digital.
“He had been suffering from cancer and for a very, very, very, very long time. And he’s been on hospice for the last two weeks,” Hoeffner emotionally said, paying tribute to her dear neighbor.
“He was my best friend, he was a great actor, amazing producer, singer.”
Swan began his career as a boy soprano singer in Chicago. In his early 20s, he sang as a bass-baritone in several synagogues and churches.
He received his first acting gig in high school as the lead in “The Bartered Bride” and worked at the Court Theater at the University of Chicago.
Hoeffner said Swan’s “dying wish” was to take his award-winning screenplay about Samuel Johnson, the man who created the first modern dictionary, and turn the story into a movie.
“I told him… when he got to the other side to get some spirits together and help me get somebody to turn this into a movie,” she told Fox News Digital.
His wife Barbara added that Swan was always motivated to finish the screenplay despite his severe illness.
“He was always looking forward,” Barbara said. “Even when he was physically unable to do things… He will be missed, certainly by me… but also by so many people out here in this area.”
Although the couple didn’t have any children, Barbara spoke fondly of the many dogs they took care of together.