Many news sources say that Herbert “Cowboy” Coward,

who played Toothless Man in the 1972 movie Deliverance, died in a car accident on Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 85-year-old man and his 78-year-old girlfriend Bertha Brooks were both killed in the crash in Haywood County, North Carolina, according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol officials and local news stations WLOS and FOX Carolina. His Chihuahua dog and pet squirrel also died in the crash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People asked the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for a comment, but they didn’t answer right away.

Reports say that Coward was turning onto the highway when he was hit by a truck being driven by a 16-year-old. The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital.

WLOS reported that Coward and Brooks were not wearing seatbelts, and the police said they didn’t think the teen driver was going too fast. There were no charges.

Dorothy Coward, who was married to Coward for 51 years, died in September 2011. They had four kids together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In his memorable role in Deliverance, he had a scary scene with his co-star Jon Voight. Along with Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox, the movie stars John Boorman. In 1973, the movie was up for three Oscars, including Best Picture.