Child actor Jeffrey Louis Starr, known for 'Bad News Bears', dies at 61

Jeffrey Louis Starr, who played catcher Mike Engelberg in the Bad News Bears movie sequels, has died at the age of 61. His family confirmed that he passed away on July 25, 2025, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Illinois to TMZ. He was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his death.

Family members shared that Starr had been dealing with illness for several years. His brother, Kevin Starr, spoke about the challenges of depression following his death. The exact cause of death was not confirmed. Starr is remembered by friends, family, and fans for his presence in the Bad News Bears films. He was also beloved for his role in the community.

Born on February 20, 1964, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Starr began acting as a child. He stepped into the role of Mike Engelberg for The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977) and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978). He replaced Gary Lee Cavagnaro, who played Engelberg in the first film of the series.

Jeffrey Louis Starr's career in the ‘Bad News Bears’ films

Jeffrey Louis Starr began his acting career when he was cast to be Mike Engelberg in the sequels of The Bad News Bears. Breaking Training, which was the first of the sequels, came out in 1977. The third one, Go to Japan, was released in 1978. The character of Engelberg, played by Starr, was the famous catcher of the team with a comedic flair, and harbored a rivalry with Joey, the pitcher for the Yankees.

He replaced Gary Lee Cavagnaro, who played Engelberg in the 1976 film. Although Starr was featured only in the sequels, this brought him recognition among the series followers. People who grew up watching the movies remember his work in these films.

Starr was not featured much after Bad News Bears. He also appeared as an extra in a number of productions.

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Life after acting

After his acting career at a young age, Jeffrey Louis Starr led an existence outside of Hollywood. He was involved in his immediate community and had also served as a deacon at Mill Creek Baptist Church since 2010.

Jeffrey Louis Starr got married to his wife, Linda, in 1981. The couple had two sons, Brandon and Jacob, and had been married for 44 years. He is also survived by his many grandchildren. Starr loved visiting the church and spending time with his family and his grandchildren, as per his obituary, according to The Daily Mail.

Although he does not have an extensive list of acting credits, his experience in the Bad News Bears sequels is caked in memory. His acts are part of the history of the movies, which are still being viewed by successive generations.

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The life of Jeffrey Louis Starr was marked by the combination of a short but bright career in the sphere of acting and decades of devotion of the man to his community and family.

He worked in the Bad News Bears sequels to become a part of a famous franchise, and his post-acting years indicated that he was focused on service and family life.

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