Matt DeCaro, ca. 1955 – 2026

Chicago-based character actor Matt DeCaro, 70, died on April 25; he was currently appearing in The Goodman Theater’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He was a regular at the Goodman, also acting with the Drury Lane Theater, the Marriott Theater, and the Steppenwolf Theater. He also appeared in such movies and TV shows as Richie Rich, Cold Case, NYPD Blue, Prison Break, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boston Legal, and Chicago Fire, among others. DeCaro’s agent Jim McCaffrey wrote that “He was the loveliest guy in the world. He always made everything fun, even when the business was not fun.” The Goodman’s artistic director Susan Booth added that “Matt made you feel at home. He was one of the most caring human beings. Matt always pulled his energy from his scene partner. Anytime you would watch Matt on stage, he’d be locked on to the other people in the scene and that’s what lit him up.”