Stephen Stucker is best remembered as the crazy Johnny in the classic comedy Airplane, where he upstaged every well-known actor in the movie. He later went on to an equally funny performance in Airplane II: The Sequel. Before Airplane, he was just as funny as a courtroom stenographer in the underground comedy, Kentucky Fried Movie.
The two Airplane films brought Stephen Stucker some well deserved attention, but the great comic roles he should have had never came his way.
He was a brave man, for he was one of the first actors to publicly announce that he was HIV positive, which in the 1980's was a bold move. I'm sure that played a part in his lack of better roles. This act alone gives me great respect and admiration for Stephen Stucker. Hollywood, of all places should be ashamed.
Steven Stucker died in 1986 from complications of AIDS at the young age of 38. One can only wonder what kind of laughter he would have brought to the entertainment world as a guest host on Saturday Night Live, as foil to Jim Carrey or Jerry Seinfeld, or appearing on a variety of television shows and movies that could have benefited from his presence.
The two Airplane films brought Stephen Stucker some well deserved attention, but the great comic roles he should have had never came his way.
He was a brave man, for he was one of the first actors to publicly announce that he was HIV positive, which in the 1980's was a bold move. I'm sure that played a part in his lack of better roles. This act alone gives me great respect and admiration for Stephen Stucker. Hollywood, of all places should be ashamed.
Steven Stucker died in 1986 from complications of AIDS at the young age of 38. One can only wonder what kind of laughter he would have brought to the entertainment world as a guest host on Saturday Night Live, as foil to Jim Carrey or Jerry Seinfeld, or appearing on a variety of television shows and movies that could have benefited from his presence.
