'Good Time' Actor Buddy Duress Dead At 38, Cause Revealed
Actor Buddy Duress, celebrated for his notable performances in 'Heaven Knows What' and his collaboration with Robert Pattinson in the acclaimed film 'Good Time,' has died.
He was 38.
The confirmation of Duress' passing comes from his brother, Christopher Stathis, who disclosed to PEOPLE that the actor had died in November 2023. The circumstances surrounding his untimely death was linked to a "cardiac arrest from a drug cocktail."
Born Michael C. Stathis in Queens, New York, in May 1985, Duress stepped onto the big screen for the first time in the 2014 film 'Heaven Knows What.' His entry into the world of acting was no grand affair but rather a chance encounter with filmmaker Josh Safdie, facilitated by their mutual friend Arielle Holmes, who also happened to be a co-star in the movie.
During the filming of 'Heaven Knows What,' he was reportedly on the run from the law. Having opted out of a drug inpatient program, he found himself entangled with authorities. By the time the film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August 2014, Duress was already behind bars, courtesy of a drug-related conviction and his elusive escapades.
"I still look back at it. If I had went to that program, I wouldn't have been in 'Heaven Knows What,' and I probably wouldn't be an actor right now. That's the honest truth. I wouldn't," Duress, who is survived by his mother and brother, said to SSense.
In 2017, the Safdie brothers brought Duress back for their breakthrough film, 'Good Time,' where Robert Pattinson took the lead. Duress portrayed Ray, a criminal whom Pattinson's character, Connie, unintentionally liberates from a hospital. Together, they embark on a quest for liquid LSD within the thrilling backdrop of an amusement park.
According to 'Variety,' Duress has two more unreleased projects, including a short film 'Skull' and Jay Karales’ debut 'Mass State Lottery,' set to release this year.
