Evan Helmuth

Evan Hershey Helmuth (May 18, 1977 – July 17, 2017) was an American film and television actor best known for portraying Father David Keane in the 2012 horror film The Devil Inside.^[1] Born in Fairfax, Virginia, and raised initially in Reston until age 10 before moving to Ames, Iowa, Helmuth pursued acting from a young age.^[2][3] Helmuth attended Lake Anne Elementary School in Reston and graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in 1995, where he majored in theater and received the highest award in his program.^[2] He later earned a B.A. from the University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts in 1999, winning the Jack Nicholson Award for his performance.^[2] His career began with a debut in the 1999 independent film Self Storage, followed by voice work as the villain William Dresari in the 2000 video game MechWarrior 4: Vengeance.^[4] Over the next decade, he built a resume of supporting roles in television series including Alias, NCIS, CSI: NY, Bones, Castle, Rizzoli & Isles, and Battle Creek, often playing authoritative or intense characters.^[1][2] Helmuth's film breakthrough came with the role of Troy in the 2005 romantic comedy Fever Pitch, directed by the Farrelly brothers and starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon.^[4] He later appeared as a supporting actor in the 2013 biographical drama Jobs, portraying a colleague of Ashton Kutcher's Steve Jobs, and achieved wider recognition with his lead supporting role in The Devil Inside, which grossed over $60 million worldwide despite critical panning.^[1][4] In addition to acting, he worked as a producer on select projects.^[3] Helmuth passed away in Los Angeles at age 40 from complications of a stroke; he was survived by his sister Erika Fairchild Helmuth Saunders, stepmother Paula Forrest, and dog Sasha, but preceded in death by his parents John William Helmuth and Kerry O'Brien Helmuth.^[2][5]

Early life and education

Early years

Evan Hershey Helmuth was born on May 18, 1977, in Fairfax, Virginia.^[6] He was the son of John William Helmuth and Kerry O’Brien Helmuth, both of whom predeceased him.^[7] Helmuth spent his early childhood in Reston, Virginia, where he resided with his family until the age of 10. During this time, he attended Lake Anne Elementary School.^[8] In 1987, his family relocated to Ames, Iowa, marking a significant change in his young life.^[7] From a young age, Helmuth showed an interest in the performing arts, attending the Interlochen Arts Camp in northern Michigan for multiple summers during his childhood. This early exposure laid the groundwork for his later transition to formal artistic training at Interlochen Arts Academy.^[8]

Education

Helmuth developed an early interest in the arts during his childhood in Reston, Virginia, which led him to pursue formal training in performing arts. He attended the Interlochen Arts Camp for multiple summers in northern Michigan, immersing himself in artistic programs.^[7] Helmuth then enrolled at the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he spent three years of high school focused on theater. He graduated in 1995 as a theater major and received the school's highest award for an individual arts graduate, recognizing his exceptional talent and dedication.^[7] Following high school, Helmuth continued his education at the University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999 and was honored with the Jack Nicholson Award for outstanding actor, one of the program's most prestigious recognitions for dramatic excellence. During his time at USC, he garnered numerous additional awards for his performances and contributions to the arts.^[7]

Career

Beginnings

Following his graduation from the University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts, Evan Helmuth entered the acting industry in 1999. Helmuth's debut film role came that same year in the obscure independent comedy Self Storage, where he portrayed a character named Evan.^[4] He soon expanded into voice acting with his early role as William Dresari, a key antagonist, in the 2000 video game MechWarrior 4: Vengeance.^[9] These initial projects marked the start of his professional endeavors in entertainment. Despite these early credits, Helmuth faced significant challenges in securing major breakthroughs during his first decade in the industry, often limited to minor roles in feature films such as Hotel Employee #2 in Speakeasy (2002), Grocery Guy in The United States of Leland (2002), Bass Player in Dead & Breakfast (2004), and Steward in Garfield: The Movie (2004), as well as guest appearances on television series.^{[4] [3]} He remained active as an actor from 1999 until 2015, gradually building experience through such foundational work.^[10]

Notable works

Helmuth first garnered attention for his supporting role as Troy, the loyal best friend and sidekick to Jimmy Fallon's baseball-obsessed character Ben Wrightman, in the Farrelly brothers' romantic comedy Fever Pitch (2005).^[11] His performance contributed to the film's lighthearted ensemble dynamic, helping it resonate with audiences during its theatrical release. In 2007, Helmuth made an uncredited appearance as Dinosaur/Watson in the comedy Mr. Woodcock, directed by Craig Gillespie, where he added to the film's satirical take on high school gym class rivalries alongside stars Billy Bob Thornton and Seann William Scott.^[12] Helmuth took on a supporting role as Lawrence in the 2009 thriller Ready or Not, a bachelor party adventure film that follows four college friends stranded in Mexico, emphasizing his ability to handle tense, comedic ensemble scenarios. He also served as a producer on the 2009 film Other People's Parties.^{[13] [4]} His breakthrough came with the lead role of Father David Keane, an exorcist grappling with a demonic possession case, in the 2012 found-footage horror film The Devil Inside, directed by William Brent Bell; this performance marked his most prominent and widely recognized film contribution, earning praise for its intensity amid the movie's controversial reception.^{[11] [14]} Helmuth appeared in a supporting capacity as Francis, a staff member at Apple, in the 2013 biographical drama Jobs, which chronicles the early life of Steve Jobs and features Ashton Kutcher in the title role.^[15] On television, Helmuth demonstrated his dramatic versatility through guest appearances, including as a suspect (Jeff Beilsman) in NCIS (2006), a role in Alias (2003), Special Agent Tom Archer in CSI: NY (2007), Karl Singler in Bones (2012), Detective Josh Hammond in Castle (2011), Jake Spencer in Rizzoli & Isles (2012), and Mike Goodman in Battle Creek (2015).^{[5] [3]} These roles highlighted his range in procedural dramas, often portraying grounded, relatable characters in high-stakes narratives. Additionally, he provided voice work as Michael Driscoll in the 2011 video game L.A. Noire, contributing to its immersive noir detective storyline.^[16]

Personal life

Family

Evan Helmuth was the son of John William Helmuth and Kerry O’Brien Helmuth, both of whom predeceased him.^[8] He had one sister, Erika Fairchild Helmuth Saunders, who resides in Hershey, Pennsylvania.^[8] His stepmother, Paula Forrest, lives in Ames, Iowa.^[8] The family relocated to Ames, Iowa, when Helmuth was 10 years old.^[8] Helmuth was also survived by his beloved pet dog, Sasha.^[5]

Death

Evan Helmuth died on July 17, 2017, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 40.^[11] His death resulted from complications arising from a stroke.^[17][11] The news of Helmuth's passing was reported by major entertainment outlets, including Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, which highlighted his career in film and television.^[5][11] These announcements prompted tributes from colleagues, such as actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who posted on social media, "Rest in peace brother."^[5] Helmuth was survived by his sister, Erika, his stepmother, Paula, and his dog, Sasha.^[5] Obituaries noted the profound loss felt by his family and friends, with no public memorial service details announced at the time.^[18]

Filmography

Film

Evan Helmuth began his film career with small roles in independent and studio productions, gradually taking on more prominent characters in horror and drama genres. His portrayal of Father David Keane in The Devil Inside represented a breakthrough, earning him recognition in the horror genre.^[5]

Television

Evan Helmuth made guest appearances across a variety of television series, often portraying supporting characters in procedural dramas and thrillers. His roles typically featured law enforcement personnel, civilians entangled in investigations, or everyday figures, showcasing his versatility in ensemble casts.

• Fastlane (2002): Elvin, in the episode "Mighty Blue" (Season 1, Episode 8).
• American Family (2004): P.F.C. Smith, in the episode "Shadows" (Season 2, Episode 7).
• E-Ring (2005): Marcus, a military operative, in the episode "Delta Does Detroit" (Season 1, Episode 3).
• Alias (2005): Man in a Suit, an unnamed operative, in the episode "The Horizon" (Season 5, Episode 9).
• CSI: NY (2006): Blake Mathers, a suspect in a nightclub murder probe, in the episode "All Access" (Season 2, Episode 21).^[19]
• NCIS (2006): Jeff Beilsman, an emergency medical technician involved in a Marine's death, in the episode "Family Secret" (Season 3, Episode 16).^[20]
• What About Brian (2007): Trip Hanley, a friend navigating relationship temptations, in the episode "What About Temptations..." (Season 2, Episode 15).^[21]
• Castle (2010): Nick Johnston, a key witness in a murder investigation, in the episode "He's Dead, She's Dead" (Season 3, Episode 2).^[22]
• Love's Christmas Journey (2011): Deputy Harve, TV movie.
• Awake (2012): Roland Petrowski, a detective's colleague in a dual-reality case, in the episode "Say Hello to My Little Friend" (Season 1, Episode 5).
• Bones (2012): Karl Singler, a competitive gamer linked to a victim's online world, in the episode "The Warrior in the Wuss" (Season 7, Episode 10).
• The Client List (2012): Phil, a client at a massage parlor under scrutiny, in the episode "The Cold Hard Truth" (Season 1, Episode 6).
• Rizzoli & Isles (2012): Jake Spencer, a suspect in a cold case disappearance, in the episode "Throwing Down the Gauntlet" (Season 3, Episode 5).^[23]
• Perception (2013): Charlie Kendricks, a character witness in a psychological evaluation, in the episode "Ch-Ch-Changes" (Season 1, Episode 9).^[24]
• Battle Creek (2015): Mike Goodman, a local informant aiding an FBI probe, in the episode "Old Wounds" (Season 1, Episode 8).

Video games

Evan Helmuth provided voice acting for select video games, contributing to narrative-driven titles in the action and adventure genres. His early entry into voice work came with the 2000 mecha simulation game MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, where he voiced the character William Dresari, a key figure in the game's storyline set within the BattleTech universe.^[25][26] In 2011, Helmuth lent his voice to L.A. Noire, a neo-noir action-adventure detective game developed by Team Bondi and Rockstar Games, portraying Michael Driscoll, a suspect involved in the game's investigative cases set in 1940s Los Angeles.^[27][28] This role highlighted his ability to deliver tense, character-specific dialogue in interactive storytelling. No additional video game credits are documented in his filmography.^[3]