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Seth MacFarlane's animated sitcom "Family Guy" debuted in 1999 as, effectively, a crass redux of "The Simpsons." This was a telling development in popular culture, as "The Simpsons," which debuted a full decade earlier, was seen as the crass redux of most traditional sitcoms. The below-average boob Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) was replaced by the boorish moron Peter Griffin (MacFarlane). "The Simpsons" often presented juvenile humor, but was clearly made by smart people who liked to slip high-end literary and scientific references into their scripts. "Family Guy," in contrast, well full-bore fratboy, leaning heavily into tasteless (and darkly funny) jokes about sexual assault, racism, and celebrity culture. "Family Guy" pivoted on pop culture references, specifically remembered by those born in the mid-1970s. 

"Family Guy" also aged up its child characters. On "The Simpsons," Bart (Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) were 10 and 8 respectively. On "Family Guy," Chris (Seth Green...

Charles Cyphers, who played Sheriff Leigh Brackett opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in three Halloween movies, performances that spanned a remarkable 43 years, has died. He was 85.

Cyphers died Sunday in Tucson, Arizona, after a brief illness, his manager, Chris Roe, announced.

“Charles was an incredibly lovable and sensitive man,” Roe said in a statement. “He always had the best stories, and you got a full performance while he told you them. He was a close friend and client for over 20 years.”

In addition to Halloween (1978), Cyphers appeared in five other projects from writer-director John Carpenter: Assault on Precinct 13 (1976); the 1978 and 1979 telefilms Somebody’s Watching Me! and Elvis; The Fog (1980) and Escape From New York (1981).

“He was an early and frequent collaborator with me on my early movies,” Carpenter wrote on Twitter. “A kind man, he was a friend. I shall miss him.”

Charles Cyphers has passed away. He was an...

Charles Cyphers dies at the age of 85. The actor is undoubtedly best-known by fans of John Carpenters classic slasher flick, Halloween (1978), as the venerable Sheriff Leigh Bracket, starring along with Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis. Brackett helps Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) hunt for the Shape, aka Michael Myers (Nick Castle), the night the serial killer came home over 45 years ago. Cyphers manager, Chris Roe, revealed that the Halloween actor and Hollywood stalwart passed away after battling a brief illness (per Variety). Roe said:

Charles was a lovable and sensitive man. He always had the best stories, and you got a full performance while he told you. He was a close friend and client of many years who will be dearly missed.

Halloween (1978) R HorrorThriller Release Date October 27, 1978Director John CarpenterCast Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran, Nancy Kyes, P.J. Soles, Kyle Richards, Charles CyphersRuntime 1hr 31minWriters John Carpenter,...

Charles Cyphers, best known for his role as Leigh Brackett in the Halloween films, died Sunday, August 4 from a brief illness in Tucson, Az, his manager Chris Roe confirmed to Deadline. He was 85.

“Charles was a lovable and sensitive man,” Roe said in a statement. “He always had the best stories, and you got a full performance while he told you. He was a close friend and client of many years who will be dearly missed.”

“His family asks for privacy at this time,” Roe added. “Details on a celebration of life ceremony will happen at a date and location to be determined.”

Cyphers worked extensively with Halloween‘s John Carpenter, first in the 1976 action film Assault on Precinct 13, in which he played Starker, one of the ill-fated police officers gunned down by gang members. He next appeared in Carpenter’s 1980 horror film The Fog, playing Dan O’Bannon, and...

Charles Cyphers, known for his role as Sheriff Leigh Brackett in the “Halloween” franchise, died from a brief illness in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday, his manager Chris Roe announced. He was 85.

“Charles was a lovable and sensitive man,” Roe said in a statement shared with Variety. “He always had the best stories, and you got a full performance while he told you. He was a close friend and client on many years who will be dearly missed.”

Cyphers first played Sheriff Brackett in John Carpenter’s 1978 horror film “Halloween,” starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie in her film debut. He reprised his role in the 1981 sequel “Halloween II” and 2021’s “Halloween Kills.”

Cyphers initially worked with Carpenter on the 1976 action film “Assault on Precinct 13,” in which he played Starker, a police officer. After the original “Halloween,” he appeared in the filmmaker’s 1980 horror pic “The Fog” and 1981 film “Escape From New York.

TNT has given the green light to Perception, an original drama series starring Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Eric McCormack (Will & Grace, Who Is Clark Rockefeller?). TNT has ordered 10 episodes of the new series, which centers on a neuroscientist who works to solve complex criminal cases. Also starring are Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That), Arjay Smith (The Day After Tomorrow) and Kelly Rowan (The O.C.). Perception was created by executive producer Kenneth Biller (Smallville, Legend of the Seeker) and co-executive producer Mike Sussman (Star Trek: Voyager), with McCormack serving as producer. Alan Poul (Six Feet Under) directed and served as executive producer for the pilot. Produced by ABC Studios, Perception is expected to premiere on TNT in 2012.

In Perception, McCormack plays Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook and expertise to help the federal government crack difficult cases. Pierce's intimate knowledge of human...