Actor Anthony Guidera, known for his roles in The Godfather Part III and Species, died on June 6, 2026 in a Los Angeles-area hospital. He was 65 years old. Guidera had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at his home in May and spent three weeks on life support before passing away. His wife confirmed the news, leaving fans and Hollywood colleagues mourning the loss of a character actor who appeared in some of the biggest films of the 1990s.
A Sudden Cardiac Arrest at Home Led to Three Weeks on Life Support
On May 11, 2026, Guidera collapsed in the living room of his Southern California home. His heart stopped beating without warning. His wife, Valarie Anderson, rushed him to the hospital where doctors placed him on life support. She told TMZ that the medical team could not determine what caused his heart to stop. After three weeks on a ventilator, Anderson made the difficult decision to remove life support following Guidera’s prior wishes. He died peacefully on Saturday, June 6. The exact cause of his cardiac arrest remains unknown.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Anthony,” Valarie Anderson wrote in a Facebook post. “We are devastated and trying to breathe through the impossible, taking each moment as it comes. Please hold this eternal light in your hearts and our family in your prayers.”
The spiritual foundation Astara, where Guidera volunteered, also confirmed his death with a similar message of grief.
From ‘The Godfather Part III’ to an MTV Award for Best Kiss
Guidera began his film career in 1990 with a role in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III. He played Anthony the Bodyguard, a loyal member of the Corleone family. The film starred Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, and Andy García. It was his first big break in Hollywood.
His most famous role came in 1995 with the science fiction film Species. Guidera played Robbie, a diabetic man killed by Natasha Henstridge’s character. The movie became a cult classic. For their on-screen kiss, Guidera and Henstridge won the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in 1996. This award remains one of his most recognized achievements.
A Busy Career in 1990s Blockbusters and TV Shows
Throughout the 1990s, Guidera appeared in many major Hollywood films. He had small but memorable roles in The Rock (1996) starring Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery, Armageddon (1998) where he played Co-Pilot Tucker, and The Postman (1997) with Kevin Costner. He also appeared in Heist (1998) and The Annihilation of Fish (1999).
On television, Guidera made guest appearances on popular shows. He appeared in Baywatch (1993), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), Renegade, Angel, ER (2001), and Nash Bridges. His final screen credit was the film L.A. Dicks in 2005.
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A Private Life with His Wife of 20 Years
Anthony Guidera was born on October 18, 1960 in San Francisco, California. He was married to Valarie Anderson for 20 years. The couple had a son named Nick. Friends and family remember Guidera as a dedicated husband and father who also gave his time to volunteer at Astara, a spiritual foundation. He is survived by his wife and son.
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