Joe Stapleton, a longtime New England broadcaster and actor in several Oscar-winning films, died on Tuesday, Boston radio news station WBZ announced.
Stapleton was known throughout Massachusetts for over 25 years for his work in local radio and television, most recently as WBZ’s traffic reporter. But Stapleton, who was an avid movie fan, also built a career as a bit-role actor in movies and TV shows set in the Northeast, including several major recent Oscar contenders.
Among those credits include a role as a police officer in the 2016 Best Picture winner “Spotlight.” He also played a fire marshall in a crucial scene in “Manchester by the Sea,” in which he speaks with Casey Affleck’s character after the fire that sends him spiraling into depression. He also had bit roles in “Mystic River,” “R.I.P.D.” and “The Invention of Lying.”
Stapleton was honored by WBZ and Boston’s transportation authority, who both offered condolences to the late reporter’s family.