Actor C.W. Morgan, known for playing Hank Loomis in the original Scream movie franchise, has died at the age of 72.
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records indicate that Morgan was found dead in the bathroom of an apartment building in LA on August 30. Although he passed away several weeks ago, news of his death emerged this week after tributes were shared on social media by family and friends.
Daughter's tribute
Among those paying tribute was Morgan's daughter, Renata Macfie, who remembered him fondly for his sense of humour. She wrote on Facebook: "I'm never going to have the right words for this post. Losing you has left the biggest hole in my heart. I miss you endlessly already."
Sharing a photo of her father embracing her as a child, Macfie added: "I will carry on our Mulholland drives and our Starbucks outings. I'm grateful and lucky to have had you as my daddy. My Guck. Rest easy bubby. Life will never be the same without you and your poorly timed jokes that I inherited from you. Love you endlessly (no more fighting about that anymore I win)."
A friend of Morgan's said in tribute: "C.W. Morgan was a devoted father to Renata Macfie, a brilliant actor, a loving friend and an incredible writer."
Cause of death and career
While Morgan's official cause of death has been listed as deferred pending further investigation, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told TMZ that it appears to be the result of natural causes.
Born Curtis Wade Morgan in 1954, the actor earned a handful of screen credits in the 1990s, including the TV movie The Last of His Tribe and the radio drama Midnight Caller, while also working as a law clerk. He is best known for his role in Wes Craven's Scream (1996), in which he played a prominent defence lawyer who vouches for his son's innocence.
In the franchise, Hank's secret extramarital affair with Maureen Prescott, the mother of Neve Campbell's Sidney, fractured the Loomis family and served as the primary catalyst driving his son, Billy Loomis, to become the original Ghostface killer. Morgan briefly reprised his role via a flashback cameo in Scream 3 (2000).
Personal life and final posts
Morgan was active on Instagram, where he shared selfies, food recommendations and photos of landscapes. In September 2024, he posted an image of his daughter with her dog, writing: "My amazing daughter and her astoundahound." His last post, in June 2025, was a photo of a blossoming pink rose with no caption.
The late actor was never married and is survived by his only child, Renata.
