Former child star Jeffrey Louis Starr died at the age of 61 on July 25 while ‘surrounded by loved ones.’
The late actor – who is known for appearing in the Bad News Bears sequels – passed away inside a hospital in Carbondale, Illinois, TMZ reported on Saturday.
Family sources confirmed Jeffrey’s death to the outlet and stated that he had been battling an illness leading up to his passing last month.
The star’s brother Kevin also shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook just one day after his passing and revealed that he had been ‘sick for several years.’
‘The world got a little darker yesterday with the passing of my Best Friend and Brother,’ Kevin wrote.
‘Jeff lived an amazing life and shared his life with countless people, Jeff never met a stranger and helped so many people throughout the years.’
Former child star Jeffrey Louis Starr has died at the age of 61 on July 25 while ‘surrounded by loved ones’
The late actor – who is known for appearing in the Bad News Bears sequels – passed away inside a hospital in Carbondale, Illinois, TMZ reported on Saturday; seen above (middle top) in The Bad News Bears Go To Japan (1978)
Kevin then expressed that his late brother had been ill ‘for several years’ and added that ‘depression is one of the biggest killers in the world.’
However, the actor’s official cause of the death has not been disclosed.
‘Our family has suffered so many losses in the past but we must push through,’ he continued in the post, before asking others close to the actor to keep his family ‘in their prayers.’
Kevin concluded by adding, ‘I Love you so much little Brother and I’ll see you on the other side.’
Jeffrey passed away on July 25 at Memorial Hospital in the city of Carbondale in the state of Illinois, per a public obit shared by Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Homes.
He was born on February 20, 1964 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and later married Linda Darlene Webb in 1981 – with the pair celebrating their 44th wedding anniversary a few months earlier in June.
The late actor is survived by wife Linda as well as their two sons Brandon and Jacob, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and another on the way, as well as his two brothers, one sister and other relatives.
Jeffrey was previously seen on the big screen in The Bad News Bears sequels, including The Bad News Bears In Breaking Training (1977) and The Bad News Bears Go To Japan (1978).
The star’s brother Kevin also shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook just one day after his passing and revealed that he had been ‘sick for several years’
Jeffrey passed away on July 25 at Memorial Hospital in the city of Carbondale in the state of Illinois, per a public obit shared by Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Homes; seen left in Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977)
The late star portrayed the character of Mike Engelberg throughout both films.
In the 1977 sequel, Jeffrey had the chance to work alongside other cast members including William Devane and Clifton James.
William is known for his roles in projects such as the soap opera Knots Landing and the Fox series 24.
And in the 1978 film, Jeffrey also starred with Hollywood icon Tony Curtis – who was known for a number of movies including Some Like It Hot (1959) with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon.
The original film The Bad News Bears premiered in 1976 and starred Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal and Vic Morrow.
The premise followed, ‘An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer who coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league,’ per IMDB.
The sports comedy was a box office and critical success upon its release and also garnered a variety of accolades, such as a Writers Guild Award for Best Comedy Written Directly For The Screen.
Along with the two sequels starring Jeffrey, the first movie also spawned a short-lived CBS series from 1979-1980 and a remake which premiered in 2005 – starring Billy Bob Thornton and Greg Kinnear.
Jeffrey (left) seen with Tony Curtis (1978) in The Bad News Bears Go To Japan (1978)
The Bad News Bears sequels are the only acting credits listed under Jeffrey’s name, according to his official IMDB page.
He later became a deacon in 2010 at the Mill Creek Baptist Church and ‘loved going to church and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren,’ per the obit.
Jeffrey was also a ‘proud member of the Screen Actors Guild and a longtime member of the Moose Lodge #1346 in Anna.’
A funeral service was held four days after his passing on July 29 at the Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home.
