Penn Live Patriot-News
By EmilyAnn Jackman
May 6, 2026
Actor Dion Anderson, best known for his roles in “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Gilmore Girls,” has died at 87.
Anderson passed away peacefully on April 26, according to his online obituary.
No cause of death for the actor was listed.
Anderson was originally from Cameron County, Texas. He received a master’s degree in fine arts from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Soon after teaching Shakespeare in Florida, he joined the Voice of America, where he directed films and created television programs.
After completing his studies in London, he pursued a career in theater and acting, directing productions at an opera house in West Virginia before appearing in multiple television, film and stage productions.
Anderson portrayed a prison official in the beloved 1994 film “The Shawshank Redemption”. Though the role was small, it was significant in establishing the institutional setting that shaped the lives of the film’s inmates — Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, and Ellis “Red” Redding, played by Morgan Freeman.
Other films Anderson appeared in include the 2002 comedy “Mr. Deeds” and the 1991 film “Dying Young.”
He also had a prolific television career; some the shows he appeared in include “The X-Files,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Reba,” and “Cold Case.” He was also a regular on the sitcom “Townies” and appeared in two episodes of “Gilmore Girls.”
Anderson is survived by his wife, Lucinda Anderson, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his extended family.
ANDERSON, Dion
Born: 8/6/1938, Cameron, Texas, U.S.A
Died: 4/26/2026, Santa Paula, California, U.S.A.
Dion Anderson’s western – actor:
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (TV) - 1991 (Diamond Jim Brady)
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