C.W. Morgan, remembered by horror fans as Billy Loomis's father in Scream, has died at 72. Reports published October 8 brought wider attention to his passing, although Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records reviewed by multiple outlets show he died on August 30.
The actor's cause of death remains undetermined. According to Us Weekly, the medical examiner listed it as deferred, meaning a final determination has not been made. Entertainment Weekly separately reported that an LAPD spokesperson told TMZ the death appeared to involve natural causes, but that preliminary assessment does not establish an official cause.
For his daughter, Renata Macfie, the loss was deeply personal long before the latest headlines. In a tribute shared on the day of his death, she wrote, "Losing you has left the biggest hole in my heart." Her remembrance recalled their Mulholland drives, Starbucks outings and the jokes she inherited from him.
Morgan played Hank Loomis in Wes Craven's original 1996 Scream, appearing as the lawyer who defended his son Billy, portrayed by Skeet Ulrich, during the police investigation. His character's confidence in Billy's innocence became especially chilling once the film revealed his son as one of the killers. Morgan also appeared in Scream 3 in 2000.
Beyond Woodsboro, Morgan's screen credits included Nash Bridges and Aeon Flux. Those appearances form part of his acting legacy, while his daughter's farewell preserves the everyday companionship behind the familiar face-a father remembered through shared outings, affection and humor.
