The actor Bo Hopkins, who appeared in American Graffiti and The Wild Bunch, has died at age 80.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that Bo has passed away. Bo loved hearing from his fans from around the world and although he was unable to respond to every email over the last few years,” reads a statement on Bo Hopkins’s official website. “He appreciated hearing from each and every one of you.”

On February 2, 1938, in Greenville, South Carolina, John Howard Mauldin was born. His father was a welder at a local mill while his mother stayed home to care for the children. His father had a heart attack on his front porch and died in front of his wife and son at age 39.

When his mother remarried the following year, he was sent to live with his grandparents. He discovered at the age of 12 that he had been adopted when he was nine months old. He eventually met his birth mother and became acquainted with his half-brothers.

Hopkins, who is a twin and was born prematurely in a hospital, said he used to steal money from his relatives to pay for the movies for his friends when he was younger. When he was 17 years old, Hopkins joined the military before heading off to reform school after attempting a botched robbery.

“I don’t know how my mother and grandmother put up with me,” Hopkins said. “Later, I went back home and took them to see The Wild Bunch and my second movie, [1969’s] The Bridge at Remagen. And that’s when everybody who said I was gonna end up in prison said they always knew Billy was going to make something of himself.”

After completing the service, which included a stay in Korea for nine months, Hopkins went back to Greenville and took on a part in a local theatre’s production of The Teahouse of the August Moon before receiving a scholarship to Pioneer Playhouse at Kentucky. “I think there were 180 people trying out for summer stock,” he stated. “I didn’t even know what summer stock was.”

When he auditioned for a role in a play at the Pioneers Playhouse, he was asked to change his name because of his prior experience. He altered his character’s first name from Paul to Bo, and the Bo Hopkins character was born.

Hopkins’ luck changed for the better in Hollywood after a few months and another stay at home, when he decided to test his luck in the film industry and was awarded a scholarship to an acting school at Desilu-Cahuenga Studios, followed by a position as an instructor with The Actors Studio in L.A.’s Burbank outpost.

According to his website, John Hopkins’ acting career lasted nearly six decades, beginning with the Desilu Playhouse. His first credits appeared on a variety of TV programs in the late 1960s, including “The Phyllis Diller Show,” “Gunsmoke,” and “The Andy Griffith Show,” according to IMDb.

In “Graffiti,” the part played by Keaton was that of Joe Young, the leader of The Pharaohs greaser gang who coerced Richard Dreyfuss’ character, Curt, into mischief. Although he was labeled a bad boy in the past, he is now regarded as a Western icon and has a star on the Western Walk of Stars in Santa Clarita, Calif., in 2017.

His most recent appearance was in the film “Hillbilly Elegy” alongside Glenn Close in 2020.

On Instagram, the actress published a touching tribute to her co-star Saturday, including a snap of the two of them. She described Hopkins as an “actor to his core.”

“Just heard that the wonderful Bo Hopkins died peacefully, early this morning, with his devoted wife, Sian, holding his hand, It was a great privilege to work with Bo in HILLBILLY ELEGY,” Close said. “He was an actor to his core and put his heart into every take. He was a gentleman and a gentle man.”

She added: “He may have once, during his early days, around the time of AMERICAN GRAFFITI, been one of the bad boys, but I got acquainted and enjoyed the company of a man with a twinkle in his eye and the heart of a knight.”

“Ant-Man” director Peyton Reed wrote: “I love Bo Hopkins. One of my all-time favorite character actors. Rest In Peace.”

Hopkins is survived by two children, Matthew and Jane.