'An Officer and a Gentleman' Actress Lisa Blount Found Dead at 53

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 28th 2010 08:03AM

Lisa Blount, an actress and Oscar-winning producer who introduced herself to moviegoers as Debra Winger's friend in the classic film 'An Officer and a Gentleman,' was found dead at her home near Little Rock, Arkansas, on Wednesday. She was 53.

The Pulaski County Coroner's office told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Blount likely died on Monday and that currently there are no signs of foul play. She was found by her mother. Blount's husband, actor-director Ray McKinnon, was out of town.

In 2002, Blount won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film as a producer of 'The Accountant,' which co-starred her husband. However, she may be best known for her role as the ambitious Lynette Pomeroy in 1982's 'An Officer and a Gentleman,' which garnered her a Golden Globe nomination for best new star.

After 'Officer,' Blount made a string of TV appearances, on shows ranging from 'Moonlighting' to 'Picket Fences.' Other films include 'Great Balls of Fire!' and 2004's 'Chrystal' alongside fellow Arkansan Billy Bob Thornton.

As a producer, she found her biggest success with 'The Accountant,' a short film about a hard-living accountant trying to stop a national conspiracy.

In her Academy Awards acceptance speech, she lovingly thanked her husband, saying, "As one door was seemingly closing in my life, another door opened. And I only have one person to thank for that, my husband Ray McKinnon."

Born in Fayetteville, Arkanas, Blount and McKinnon moved to Little Rock in 2005.

Tags: Lisa Blount

Comments

(39)

Thursday 28 October

By bstill

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I don't know, maybe it's just me but is 53 considered old? I mean I'm 53 and cycle 80 to 100 miles a week and play tennis (3 sets) twice a week and do not consider myself old at all. It's hard for me to imagine myself dead as I feel that my life might be half over? I can't see people supposedly my same age just dropping dead. It must have a lot to do with mind set, I really don't know. I feel for her loved ones and my condolences go out to them!

By Ray

53 is not old...I'm 45 myself. When we were in our teens & 20's, we thought it was old. Good for you though, keep being active, that is the key.

As far as Ms. Blount sudden death, that is tragic. She was a beautiful lady & a very talented lady. I am glad to hear foul play is not suspected.

By pat

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Does this mean you're going to live to 106?

By lily

I don't know about old. I am 55 and feel 30, in my head. My brother died a year ago this week at the age of 49. Left a wife and two small kids. He had a pain in his lower leg and decided to sleep downstairs so that he would not disturb his wife's sleep. He went to bed and never woke up. He had a pulmonary embolism and just died, Simple as all that. He was in fine health and frankly, in the prime of his life. Sometimes, people just die.

By Dianne

I agree with you bstill. I am 59 and I run 3 miles every morning (except Sunday) plus weight training, and I do Wii Sports 2 or 3 nights a week. I feel younger than I did at 45!
Being found dead at 53 should immediately draw in the investigators. That's so sad. She was so very talented.
My thoughts and prayers go up for her family during this difficult time.

By me me me

i dont think 53 is old maybe to a teenager but with people living into their 90's and 100 53 is young

By Pragmatist

After 40, friends start to drop. Some is genetics, some is lifestyle, some are by chance. Every day above ground is bonus.
Many healthy living fit people are going to be angry when they, too, die of something. Live now.

Friday 29 October

By loveyouhotmiley

Yeah UR OLD. I doubt U do the things U say U do 'cause UR always posting on here and putting people down.If ur 53 why are U so worried about Miley and other young stars? Spiteful ugly people don't usually live as long as U. U think 50 is the halfway point or something? Think again, LOSER!

Saturday 30 October

By georgeintexas

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I'm 64. Get used to it.....

By Officequeen1

She was a great advocate for the WM3 also. Arkansas Take Action has truly lost a wonderfull supporter and a great person.

By tom leykis is#1

she was also in a pretty good vietnam movie with Don Johnson.It flew under the radar...."CEASE FIRE" 1985

By kethmp8

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Does any one else find it odd that she probably died Monday but was not discovered until Wednesday? When my husband is out of town, we speak many times a day. Was he not worried if he couldn't reach her? Just saying.

By Carole

The fact that her husband MAY NOT have called her is NOT odd at all...He was more than likely away on business and if in Europe the time difference may have made it very inconvinent to call her during reasonable hours...I would kill mine if he called me in the wee hours just to say Hi...

It is sad when anybody dies and she was what is considered in the best years of her life...Sorry she died so young and condolances to her family...It must have been terrible for her mother to be the one who found her. To lose a child at all is the SINGLE most horrible thing that can happen in a parent's life. BUT to have also found her, dead would be almost more than I could have bore.

By cala4u

Her husband probably couldnt get a hold of her and called the mother to go check on things...

By Beth

The fact that she probably died on Monday but was not found until Wednesday was one of my first thoughts. Didn't anyone try to get a hold of or have plans with her? It is sad that she lay dead in her own home for two days before she was found.

By JEB BUCKINGHAM

How truly sad. God bless Lisa and her surviving family. To quote the first line in the theme song from "An Officer And A Gentleman", "Who knows what tomorrow brings......."

By Jules

She looks a lot like Debra Winger to me. Condolences to her family.

By Helen

That's sad! Too young! But she could have had a stroke or heart attack, could happen to anyone. Poor thing, sad for her mother. No parent should find their child dead.

By jerryatthebeach

Like pick a bottle and go to a motel, was one of my favorite lines of hers in An Officer and a Gentleman...

By Big Rush

My favorite, by Richard Gere: I GOT NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!!

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