Bruiser in ‘Ocean’s 11’ Was 65

Scott L. Schwartz, a former professional wrestler turned screen actor who made an impression playing the heavy Bruiser in Steven Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s” heist trilogy, died Nov. 26, 2024 at his home in Covington, La. He was 65.

Schwartz’s death was confirmed by a representative. A cause of death was not disclosed.

“Those who know Scott personally associated him with being a jolly person, so full of life, a strong loving person, foodie and travel aficionado,” a statement from his representative reads. “Scott truly loved life and everyone that he met along the way. When he wasn’t acting, wrestling or telling jokes he spent his time visiting children with cancer at children’s hospitals.

Aside from the titular eleven heist team members and their rival Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), Schwartz’s Bruiser is the only other character to feature in “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen.” In the 2001 original, George Clooney’s Danny Ocean hires Schwartz’s character to fake beating him up during the group’s heist.

But Schwartz appeared in more than 100 other productions during his acting career, working as a stuntman and playing the heavy in comedic contexts, as on Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show,” and in action programmers. Some titles include “The Scorpion King,” “Spider-Man,” “Castle,” “Epic Movie,” “Starsky & Hutch” and “Fun With Dick and Jane.” He wrote, directed and acted in the 2010 feature “Changing Hands,” which starred his “Ocean’s” collaborator Eddie Jemison.

Born March 19, 1959 in Philadelphia, Schwartz excelled as a high school athlete with his 6’10” frame. He studied at Temple University before beginning to train as a professional wrestler, debuting as Giant David in 1979. At another point, he also went by “The Israeli Commando” in the ring.

Schwartz is survived by his wife, Misty; his children, Angela and Adam; his mother-in-law, Brenda; cousins, Sherry and Duwayne; his aunt, Penni, and her immediate family, Holli, Todd , Howard and several others.