Scott L. Schwartz dies at 65: George Clooney fondly recalls wrestler's 'gentle punch' as he pays tribute to Ocean's Eleven co-star

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Actor Scott L. Schwartz died at the age of 65 from congestive heart failure November 26 at his home in Covington, Louisiana, his rep said.

The 6-foot-10 Philadelphia native, who had a background as a professional wrestler, was best known playing the role of Bruiser in the Ocean's Eleven film franchise starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

He appeared in 2001's Ocean's Eleven, 2004's Ocean's Twelve and 2007's Ocean's Thirteen in the role of the strongman who helped with the titular band of thieves in their capers.

Clooney told the outlet in a statement Tuesday, 'I'm sorry to hear that Scott is gone. We did three films together and I've never been so gently punched. 

'He was a gentle soul and he will be dearly missed.'

Schwartz's rep told Variety in a statement Tuesday: 'Those who know Scott personally associated him with being a jolly person, so full of life, a strong loving person, foodie and travel aficionado. 

Actor Scott L. Schwartz died at the age of 65 from congestive heart failure November 26 at his home in Covington, Louisiana , his rep said. Pictured in Burbank, California in 2013 

Schwartz appeared in 2001's Ocean's Eleven, 2004's Ocean's Twelve and 2007's Ocean's Thirteen in the role of the strongman who helped with the titular band of thieves in their capers 

'Scott truly loved life and everyone that he met along the way. When he wasn't acting, wrestling or telling jokes he spent his time visiting children with cancer at children's hospitals.'

Schwartz was fondly remembered amid news of his passing, with actor Rick Zahn among those paying memorial to him, describing the late actor as 'a good man' and 'a dear friend.'

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'Scott has battled ill health these past couple of years,' Zahn said in an Instagram post. 'But with [wife] Misty at his side, Scott peacefully transitioned. The suffering is over.'

He added: 'At 6'10", Scott was one of the rare few I looked up to. But it wasn't just because he was actually taller. It was because of his heart. He lived life with passion. And he adored his wife, Misty.'

Schwartz racked up more than 100 credits amid his show business career as an actor and stuntman.

Among his film appearances included roles in 2021's The Pizza Joint, 2004's Starsky & Hutch, 2002's Spider-Man, 2002's The Scorpion King and 1997's Meet Wally Sparks.

Other notable film projects in Schwartz's career included the 2009 family comedy Lost in the Woods opposite Michael Madsen, and the 2010 action drama Changing Hands, which he wrote and directed. 

He was also seen on TV shows such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Nash Bridges, Angel, The Young and the Restless, The Mentalist, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Clooney said in a statement Tuesday, 'I'm sorry to hear that Scott is gone. We did three films together and I've never been so gently punched'

The 6-foot-10 Philadelphia native played sports in high school and was in college at Temple University before embarking on a career in professional wrestling 

Schwartz was also a frequent presence at fan events, which he said he enjoyed in a 2008 interview, according to Slam wrestling. 

'A lot of people go on TV or on film or whatever they do and never have an opportunity to meet people who have seen their work and enjoy their work,' Schwartz told a newspaper in McKinney, Texas. 'It’s really cool to be able to sit down and hear what they enjoyed about certain parts or what they liked. It’s kind of a cool thing both ways because it’s really great to meet fans.'

Schwartz, who was born March 19, 1959, played sports in high school and was in college at Temple University before embarking on a career in professional wrestling.

He wrestled sporadically between 1979 and 1999 under the monikers Giant David, Igor The Giant and Joshua Ben-Gurion, and had been trained by late wrestling legend Killer Kowalski, according to the industry site Cagematch.

Schwartz told Slam wrestling in 2006 of his retirement from pro wrestling, 'I hung up my boots for good in 1999 which was after 20 years.

'It was a tough decision, and in order to keep from returning to the ring, I sold most of my stuff on eBay. I kept one suit just in case, and sometimes I get a part as a wrestler and I wear that stuff in a movie, and then after I get off the movie I feel like going back in the business.'

Schwartz said that his passion for acting eventually overtook his desire to be in wrestling.

'Eventually it just got to the point where it just got in my blood,' Schwartz said. 'I did a couple of good jobs and I liked the way I got treated, and that was it, the rest is history, as they say.'

Schwartz is survived by his wife Misty and kids Angela and Adam.