Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Remembering Merritt Butrick of "Square Pegs"

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— Merritt Butrick (September 3, 1959 – March 17, 1989) was an actor who died of AIDS in Los Angeles. He was 29 years old. . In the week before his death, Butrick received a spinal tap/lumbar puncture to help relieve cranial pressure as he was suffering from toxoplasma of the brain — an AIDS defining illness. He also had pneumonia. . Merritt who died alone in his apartment on Hollywood Boulevard, was cremated and his ashes were given to his family in Lake Oswego, Oregon . Born in Gainesville, Florida, Merritt was an only child. In 1977, he graduated from Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley, California. He later attended @calarts but was dismissed having been told by his teachers that he did not have the skills required to make it as an actor. . Merritt first screen role was in two episodes of Hill Street Blues in 1981. In 1982, he was cast to play John "Johnny Slash" Ulasewicz, in the sitcom Square Pegs alongside @sarahjessicaparker. . Butrick went on to play David Marcus, the son of James T. Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) and in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984). His other film credit’s include Zapped! (1982) and Fright Night Part 2 (1988). He also had numerous guest roles on television shows including Chips, Jake and the Fatman and Beauty and the Beast. . Butrick's final acting role was in the play Kingfish at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in October 1988. . #whatisrememberedlives #theaidsmemorial #aidsmemorial #neverforget #endaids
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