Actor of iconic 'Slap Shot' movie Stephen Mendillo passes away at age 84

"It's a sad day in Slap Shot world as we say goodbye and thank you to actor Stephen Mendillo, who played Chiefs' alternate captain, laundry critic, and reluctant fashion show participant Jim Ahern. He passed away this week at the age of 84.
Steve grew up playing hockey in his hometown of New Haven, where his first coach was New York Rangers iron man Murray Murdoch, and where his father, a surgeon and a professor at Yale, was the team doctor with the New Haven Blades of the Eastern Hockey League.

He was a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, where he became close friends with classmate Henry Winkler, and he enjoyed a long career as a character actor on both stage and screen.
Surprisingly, though, he was never hired to do endorsements for Downy fabric softener. Missed opportunity.
Please join me in expressing sincere condolences to Steve's loved ones."