Actor Nicky Katt, Known for ‘Boston Public’ and ‘Dazed and Confused,’ Dies at 54
Nicky Katt, best known for his role as the unorthodox teacher Harry Senate on Boston Public and a long list of tough-guy characters in film, has passed away at the age of 54.
His death, which reportedly occurred on April 8 in Burbank, California, was confirmed by friends and his attorney, John Sloss.
Katt had a long and varied career, beginning as a child actor before evolving into a familiar face in edgy and intense roles. He worked frequently with director Richard Linklater, appearing in Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, SubUrbia, and School of Rock. He also collaborated with Steven Soderbergh in films like The Limey—where he played the memorable hitman Stacy—Full Frontal (as Hitler), and Behind the Candelabra, one of his final film roles.
Fans of Boston Public will remember Katt as Harry Senate, the passionate and often unpredictable geology teacher who taught troubled students in a section of the school known as “the dungeon.” After three seasons, creator David E. Kelley wrote him out of the series so Katt could focus on his movie career, following his character’s on-screen breakdown.
Over the years, Katt carved out a niche playing villains and antiheroes. In Dazed and Confused, he took on the role of Clint Bruno, the intimidating older guy who picks a fight with Mike (played by Adam Goldberg). He continued to show his range in dark, offbeat films like Gregg Araki’s The Doom Generation, Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days, and Neil Jordan’s The Brave One. He also had roles in two Joel Schumacher films: A Time to Kill and Batman & Robin.
One of his standout performances came in Christopher McQuarrie’s The Way of the Gun (2000), where he played a bodyguard caught in a violent shootout. Christopher Nolan cast him in both Insomnia and The Dark Knight, the latter of which saw him as a member of the S.W.A.T. team.
Katt also left his mark in the video game world, voicing the fan-favorite character Atton Rand in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords.
Based part-time in Austin, Texas, Katt worked with director Robert Rodriguez on Sin City and had a role in Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof.
In a 2008 interview reflecting on his career, Katt shared how he liked to bring a touch of humor to even the darkest material. “I kind of am notorious for bringing a lot of humor to stuff, and not in a scene-stealing way,” he said. “Especially if something is really kind of heavy subject matter—I’m kind of like oxygen for a drowning man.”
He admitted he’d often been typecast after Dazed and Confused, saying, “Everyone says the bad guys are the most fun, but I’ve definitely gone through streaks where that’s all people wanted me to play. But I’ve been really lucky—I’ve gotten to play all different types of guys.”
Born in South Dakota, Katt got his start as a child actor, appearing in TV shows and landing early roles in films like Gremlins and The ‘Burbs. His TV credits include appearances on V, Quincy M.E., Father Murphy, Law and Order, and a recurring role on the Herbie, the Love Bug series. His final screen appearance was on Hulu’s Casual in 2018.