Full Metal Jacket Rafterman icon Kevyn Major Howard dead aged 69 after health battle

Kevyn Major Howard, best known for playing Rafterman in the iconic film Full Metal Jacket, has died at the age of 69. The family confirmed to TMZ that Howard passed away in a Las Vegas hospital on Friday.

On Feb. 15, the actor's loved ones released the devastating news of his death.

TMZ reported that the accomplished actor and talented photographer was surrounded by friends and family during his final moments in the medical facility. Though Kevyn had been suffering from respiratory problems and had been hospitalised for an extended period, no official cause of death has been disclosed.

Born on Jan. 27, 1956, in Montreal, Quebec, Kevyn embarked on a successful acting journey that saw him star in several notable 1980s movies including Full Metal Jacket (1987), Death Wish II (1982), Sudden Impact (1983), and Alien Nation (1988).

Aside from his cinematic legacy, Kevyn enjoyed a prolific career spanning over 36 years as a photographer, capturing portraits of actors, musicians, and business professionals. His exceptional talent behind the camera earned him recognition as the "King of the Hollywood headshot" on the BBC show The Human Face, attributed to him after he became the top headshot photographer following his retirement from acting, reports the Mirror.

The star had the privilege of working with a host of renowned personalities throughout his career, including Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Ron Howard, James Caan, Willem Dafoe, Lawrence Fishburne, Robert Blake, George Pepard, Tom Selleck, Don Johnson, Matthew Modine, Vincent D'Onofrio, Adam Baldwin, Ed O'Ross, Arliss Howard, among many others. Kevyn saw eyes as the "window to the soul" and focused on them when capturing the perfect headshot for his