‘Terribly sad’: Boardwalk Empire star dead at 41

Best Actor winner Devin Harjes has sadly died at the age of 41, with colleagues honouring the actor in a series of tributes.

Actor Devin Harjes, best known for appearing in Boardwalk Empire, Daredevil and Gotham, has died. He was 41.

Harjes passed away last Tuesday (May 27) at Mount Sinai West hospital in New York City from an illness after he was diagnosed with cancer in February, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Devin Harjes and Steve Buscemi filming on location for Boardwalk Empire in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Picture: Getty Images

Harjes portrayed Jack ‘Cyclops’ Darmody, a loyal enforcer for the Darmody family, while Buscemi starred as Nucky Thompson, the show’s central figure. Picture: Getty Images

He’s survived by his parents, Randy and Rosanne Harjes, his sister, Trish Harjes, his two nieces, his former wife, Shiva Shobitha, and more relatives, per his obituary.

Harjes was born in Lubbock, Texas and rode horses as a child.

He studied acting in college and began his career on the off-Broadway stage and in independent film productions.

In 2011, Harjes made his television acting debut in Boardwalk Empire. He played Jack Dempsey in two episodes of the crime drama series.

Harjes went on to portray Clyde, a bank guard, in Gotham in 2015 and Oscar, a nurse who worked at Rikers Island, in Daredevil in 2015.

He also appeared in episodes of Blue Bloods, Orange Is the New Black, Elementary and FBI, and the films Surprise Surprise, Mr. Conovy, Rebel in the Reye, Boyz of Summer and The Forest Is Red.

Manifest Episode 303: Devin Harjes as Pete Baylor. Picture: Getty Images

For his role in Boyz of Summer, Harjes received an Honourable Mention for Best Supporting Actor at the Long Island International Film Expo.

Additionally, he earned Best Actor at the Tolentino International Film Festival in Italy for his role in The Forest Is Red.

Most recently, Harjes played recurring character Pete Baylor in the NBC series Manifest.

Boyz of Summer director and writer Antonio DiFonzo honoured Harjes in a Facebook post on Friday.

“Terribly sad news as we lost Devin Harjes, an amazing actor and friend,” DiFonzo wrote. “He was constantly striving to be better and put his heart and soul into everything he did!”

Pete Baylor was introduced in Season 2 as a member of a criminal trio who kidnaps Cal Stone. Picture: Getty Images

“We will never forget you and your amazing part in The Boyz of Summer and our lives,” DiFonzo added. “Rest in peace, Lion Heart!”

Harjes’ obituary read: “Outside of acting, Devin was a dedicated student of martial arts and a regular at the gym – he often joked it was safer than getting kicked in the face by a horse.”

In lieu of flowers, Harjes’ family asked for donations to be made to TKC Blessings in his name. All proceeds will support scholarships for children pursuing the arts.

This story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.

Originally published as ‘Terribly sad’: Boardwalk Empire star dead at 41