At the age of 72, actor John Vernon passed away in his sleep on Tuesday at his Los Angeles home. The actor’s death came after complications from a heart surgery he had on January 16th, according to his daughter Kate. In a career than included over 100 television shows and films, Vernon was probably best known for his role as Dean Wormer in 1978’s Animal House. However, animation fans may know him best for his vocal work as Rupert Thorne in Batman: The Animated Series, a role which he last played in 2003’s Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman.

Prior to being cast in1967’s gangster classic Point Blank, Vernon did voice work for several animated television series based on comics, notably The Marvel Superheroes Show, in which he voiced Major Glenn Talbot, Sub-Mariner, and Iron Man. His other work in animated roles included: Wildfire (1986), The Incredible Hulk (1996-97), Pinky and the Brain (1995-98), and the animated feature film Heavy Metal (1981). More on the actor’s career can be found at The Big Cartoon Database‘s touching memorial.