Former child actor Jeffrey Louis Starr, who portrayed catcher Mike Engelberg in two “Bad News Bears” sequels during the late 1970s, died on July 25 at age 61 after battling a serious illness. Starr passed away at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Illinois, surrounded by family members.
Born February 20, 1964, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Starr replaced Gary Lee Cavagnaro in the role of Mike Engelberg for the film sequels. He appeared in “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training” in 1977 and “The Bad News Bears Go to Japan” in 1978, working alongside notable actors including William Devane, Tony Curtis and Clifton James.
Starr’s brother Kevin confirmed the death in a Facebook post on July 26, one day after his passing. “The world got a little darker yesterday with the passing of my Best Friend and Brother,” Kevin wrote in the social media tribute. He indicated that Jeffrey had lived an amazing life and shared his time with countless people, noting that his brother never met a stranger and helped many people throughout the years.
According to Kevin’s post, Jeffrey had been sick for several years before his death. The brother also mentioned that depression is one of the biggest killers in the world, though the official cause of death has not been disclosed publicly. Kevin expressed that their family had suffered many losses in the past but emphasized they must push through the difficult time.
The two “Bad News Bears” sequels represent Starr’s only official acting credits listed on his IMDb page, though sources indicate he appeared as an uncredited extra in several other film projects during his later years. The original 1976 “Bad News Bears” film starred Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal, following the premise of an aging ex-minor league player coaching a team of misfits in competitive California little league baseball.
In the 1978 sequel “The Bad News Bears Go to Japan,” Starr worked with Hollywood icon Tony Curtis, known for classic films including “Some Like It Hot” with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon. The sports comedy franchise was both a box office and critical success, spawning not only the two sequels featuring Starr but also a short-lived CBS television series from 1979 to 1980 and a 2005 remake starring Billy Bob Thornton.
Starr married Linda Darlene Webb in 1981, and the couple celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary in June, just one month before his death. He is survived by his wife Linda, two sons Brandon and Jacob, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren with another on the way, two brothers, one sister and other relatives.
After his acting career, Starr became actively involved in his local church community. He was ordained as a deacon in 2010 at the Mill Creek Baptist Church and was described as someone who loved attending church services and spending time with fellow congregants.
According to his obituary published by Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Homes, Starr was a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild and maintained a longtime membership with the Moose Lodge No. 1346 in Anna. Family members and friends remembered him as someone who gave great hugs, possessed a big heart and seemed to make friends at virtually every place he visited.
Kevin Starr concluded his Facebook tribute by asking others close to the actor to keep their mother Janet “Sue” Starr, along with Jeffrey’s wife Linda, sons, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family in their prayers. He expressed his love for his younger brother and indicated he would see him on the other side.
The “Bad News Bears” franchise holds a significant place in 1970s cinema, with the original film earning recognition including a Writers Guild Award for Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen. Starr’s portrayal of the team’s catcher in the two sequels contributed to the continued success of the beloved baseball comedy series during his childhood acting career.