It was recently announced that Scott L. Schwartz, the professional wrestling star known for his role as “Bruiser” in the Ocean’s Eleven
film series, passed away on November 26, 2024, at the age of 65. Following reports that the star had died peacefully at his home in Covington, Louisiana, tributes paid to him, including his former Ocean’s Eleven costar George Clooney
.
Clooney shared his personal thoughts on social media, saying in a statement:
“I’m sorry to hear that Scott is gone. We did three films together and I’ve never been so gently punched. He was a gentle soul and he will be dearly missed.”
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Schwartz began his career in professional wrestling, but like several other showmen of the ring, his imposing size made him just as good a fit for some tough roles in Hollywood as his career in the world of wrestling as “Giant David” and “The Israeli Commando Joshua Ben-Gurion.” Schwartz transitioned to acting in the late 1990s, but it was his 2001 appearance in Ocean’s Eleven as “Bruiser,” a strongman who assists the crew in executing their elaborate heist, that would kickstart a series of high profile roles.
His performance in Ocean’s Eleven led him to star in the two sequels, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen, and he also secured roles in other high profile movies such as Spider-Man, Starsky & Hutch, and The Scorpion King – which obviously featured another wrestler just making his first steps in the industry, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Although he would not reach the giddy heights of the Red One star, Schwartz’s career included more than 110 credited roles.
Schwartz Was an Admired Gentle Giant
As well as building himself a reputation in the wrestling world, and staring as many villains and movie tough guys on screen, away from his many personas, Schwartz was one of those people who just loved to give back to the world. As well as taking part in many charitable events, and raising money for good causes as a result, he was also at one with his fans when appearing at conventions. As one user recalled on X/twitter:
“He played bad guys on TV, but in real life Scott Schwartz was a sweetheart. We met at a convention when my 11yo was this little , and it took him the whole weekend to sweet talk her into letting a 6’10” giant pick her up.”
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Another user supported the comments, and added their own thoughts on his passing, saying:
“Beyond honored to have known him at the events I have planned for the industry and non-profit organization’s. He truly was an amazing person and loved by so many people. RIP Scott.”
Whether on-screen, in the ring, or in real life, it seems that there is no one that has anything bad to say about Schwartz, and in a world where headlines are dominated by celebrities abusing their power, to have nothing but unanimous praise is clearly the best legacy anyone can leave behind. RIP.
- Release Date
-
December 7, 2001
- Runtime
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116 minutes