Jack Fillmore Betts (1929-2025): Character Actor Known for Spaghetti Westerns and Spider-Man Role

June 22, 2025 – Character actor Jack Fillmore Betts, who performed under the stage name Hunt Powers, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Los Osos, California home on June 19, 2025, at age 96. His nephew confirmed the death of the versatile performer whose career spanned seven decades across stage, film, and television.

Born April 11, 1929, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Betts moved to Miami, Florida at age 10. His artistic journey began with a WIOD radio talent contest audition during his youth. After graduating from Miami Senior High School, he studied theatre at the University of Miami, laying groundwork for his 1953 stage debut in Richard III.

Betts became a familiar face on television, notably starring as Chris Devlin in CBS’ mystery series Checkmate (1960-1962). He portrayed Dr. Ken Martin on ABC’s General Hospital (1963-1965) before reprising the role on The Young Marrieds (1965). Soap opera audiences also saw him as Dr. Ivan Kipling on One Life to Live (1968) and Mr. Fisher (1982), among other daytime roles including The Doctors (1978) and Another World (1982).

His four distinctive appearances on Perry Mason remain highlights:

Bert Nickols in “The Case of the Impatient Partner” (1961)

Enos Watterton in “The Case of the Double Entry Mind” (1962)

Murder victim George Parsons in “The Case of the Wooden Nickels” (1964)

Murder victim Bruce Strickland in “The Case of the Fanciful Frail” (1966)

Betts gained cinematic recognition through Spaghetti westerns like Sugar Colt (1966), Halleluja for Django (1967), and Dead Men Don’t Make Shadows (1970). Later, he achieved mainstream recognition playing Henry Balkan in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002) – arguably his most famous film role.

Beyond acting, Betts authored the play Screen Test: Take One, exploring soap opera dynamics through a film-set lens. His prolific filmography includes:

Early TV: Bonanza (1962), Gunsmoke (1964), The F.B.I. (1965-1967)

Film cameos: Gods and Monsters (1998), Office Space (1999), Batman Forever (1995)

Later TV: Seinfeld (1995), Friends (2001), Monk (2009), and Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (Councilor Brody, 1999)

Betts remained active through 2018’s D-Railed, demonstrating remarkable longevity. His final years were spent in Los Osos, California, concluding a career that began on Miami radio and touched generations of audiences worldwide.

Filmography

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