Chicago’s theater world is reeling after the sudden death of veteran stage and screen actor Matt DeCaro, who died at 70. He was in the middle of a run at Goodman Theatre in August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and had been onstage as recently as Friday night. News of his death spread quickly through the city’s tight-knit theater community, where DeCaro was known as a rock-solid character actor and a familiar face on local stages. No cause of death has been released.
Early reports and what’s confirmed
CBS News Chicago reports that DeCaro died at age 70 and confirms that he had been performing in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Goodman Theatre, including an appearance onstage Friday night. The outlet notes that no cause of death has been made public and that details about the circumstances and any services have not yet been announced. This story will be updated if Goodman Theatre or DeCaro’s representatives release further information.
A familiar face across stage and screen
DeCaro carved out a long career as a character actor, with television credits that include Prison Break, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Chicago P.D., along with film roles in U.S. Marshals and The Wise Kids, according to Wikipedia. In Chicago, he was a fixture on regional stages for decades, the kind of performer audiences might not always know by name but instantly recognized in one show after another. That steady mix of stage work and recurring screen appearances made him one of those dependable pros local theaters could trust to deliver.
At the Goodman this spring
Goodman Theatre lists DeCaro in the role of Sturdyvant in its spring revival of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which is scheduled to run through May 3, according to the production page. The revival has drawn strong notices for both ensemble and direction, with reviewers highlighting the cast’s work as central to the production’s impact. The Chicago Sun-Times praised the staging and emphasized the power of the ensemble in its review. Goodman’s materials and critics alike have noted robust ticket sales and energetic audience response as the show moved into the final stretch of its run.
Colleagues and critics react
Local coverage has framed the Goodman revival as a major success, and DeCaro’s death hit that celebration hard. The Daily Herald called the production “magnificent” and suggested it was ready for Broadway. As word of his passing spread across theater forums and social media, colleagues and audience members shared shock, memories and condolences. Formal tributes from institutional leaders had not yet been widely circulated at the time of publication, but personal remembrances began to appear quickly online from artists who worked with him and fans who had followed his career.
This story will be updated as official statements and service details become available. For now, what is known about DeCaro’s death and his involvement in the current Goodman production comes from media reporting and the theater’s own production information.
