Spider-Man Actor Jack Betts Dies Aged 96

Jack Betts, the versatile actor known for his roles in spaghetti Westerns, soap operas, and a brief but memorable part in the 2002 Spider-Man film, has died peacefully at the age of 96 in his Los Osos, California home. Betts, who also used the screen name Hunt Powers during his European film career, starred in about a dozen spaghetti Westerns beginning with Franco Giraldi's Sugar Colt in 1966, although these films were not distributed in the US or Canada. He was also recognized for his extensive daytime TV work, notably as Dr. Ivan Kipling on One Life to Live from 1979 to 1985, and had appearances in other soap operas such as General Hospital and All My Children. On Broadway, Betts performed in productions including Richard III and Dracula, the latter considered a career highlight. In film, he appeared in notable movies such as Gods and Monsters, Batman Forever, and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, where he played Oscorp board member Henry Balkan. Betts was close friends with actress Doris Roberts, sharing a home with her for many years until her death in 2016.