Released in 1980, New Year’s Evil has become an essential annual watch in the homes of horror fans across the world on December 31st, and it was actor Kip Niven who played the killer in the holiday horror slasher. In the film, Niven's Richard Sullivan dons a mask, grabs a switchblade and is off on a killing spree, killing each victim just as the clock strikes midnight in different time zones.
Sadly, we've learned that Kip Niven has passed away this week in his native Kansas City, Missouri, The Kansas City Star reported. Local radio station KCUR-FM said the cause of death was a heart attack. He was 73.
Kip Niven began his acting career in '60s, starting with plays before graduating to films and television shows. In addition to New Year's Evil, Niven also starred in Magnum Force, Dead Before Dawn, Summer of Fear, A Deadly Vision, "The Waltons," Earthquake, Airport, "Alice," Damnation Alley, "Walker, Texas Ranger" and Raising Jeffrey Dahmer.
Niven returned to live in the Kansas City area in the 1990s and launched the Equity Actors' Readers’ Theatre (EARTh), which staged dramatic readings of plays.
When you sit down to watch New Year's Evil this year, drink to the memory of Kip Niven.