Herbert “Cowboy” Coward, best known for playing the Toothless Man in the 1972 film Deliverance, died at 85 on January 24, 2024, after a vehicle collision in Haywood County, North Carolina. His defining screen role made him recognizable to generations of viewers, but people who knew him remembered a man unlike the character.
Who was Herbert “Cowboy” Coward?
Coward was an actor from Haywood County, North Carolina. His best-known role was the Toothless Man in John Boorman’s Deliverance (1972), a character in the film’s notorious mountain-men scene. “Toothless Man” was the character’s name, not Coward’s real name.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Deliverance [Blu-ray Book]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61FRfxnxHbL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Deliverance [Blu-ray Book] | $21.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Deliverance [blu-ray] (2007), New](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21lzt1KlNIL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Deliverance [blu-ray] (2007), New | $29.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Bloodrayne 2: Deliverance | $11.15 | Buy on Amazon |
The character’s line, commonly rendered as “He got a real purty mouth, ain’t he?”, is dialogue from the film. It became closely associated with Coward’s performance, but should not be mistaken for a statement he made outside the role.
How did Coward come to appear in Deliverance?
Before the film, Coward worked as a laborer and performed at an Old West-themed amusement park near his home in Haywood County. Local reporting says he met performers there, including Burt Reynolds, and that Reynolds later helped bring him to the attention of the film’s production.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11#1 Best Overall
- Factory sealed DVD
Deliverance remained Coward’s defining screen role. His later appearances included Ghost Town: The Movie and Hillbilly Blood; available accounts do not describe a large filmography.
What happened in the collision?
According to an account North Carolina Highway Patrol Sergeant M.J. Owens gave to The Boston Globe, Coward and his companion, Bertha Brooks, were leaving a doctor’s appointment when Coward’s car entered US Route 19 in front of a pickup truck. The collision happened in Haywood County.
The newspaper reported that Coward, Brooks, a Chihuahua and a pet squirrel died. The pickup truck’s 16-year-old driver was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Owens said authorities did not believe speed or distraction were factors. Those details are the Highway Patrol account as reported by the newspaper; no further cause or intent should be inferred.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did people who knew him remember him?
After Coward’s funeral, friend Jody Medford told FOX Carolina that people often associated Coward with his Deliverance character but that he was “one of the greatest men you would ever meet and nothing like the character he played.” That was Medford’s personal recollection, a contrast between the unsettling character audiences remembered and the man he knew.
Rank #3
Coward’s lasting place in film is tied to a single vivid performance. The role’s notoriety made the Toothless Man memorable, while accounts from people close to Coward offer a different picture of the actor behind it.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
