John Matthew Heard Jr. (Washington, March 7, 1946 – Palo Alto, July 21, 2017) was an American actor. His career began successfully in off-Broadway theater during the 1970s, where he won two Obie Awards for his performances. He gained international recognition for playing Peter McCallister, the father in the film *Home Alone* (1990) and its sequel *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York* (1992). His extensive filmography, however, includes notable roles in works such as *Big* (1988), *Awakenings* (1990), *The Pelican Brief* (1993), and Martin Scorsese's cult film *After Hours* (1985). Also active in television, he received his most significant recognition with an Emmy Award nomination in 1999 for his role as the corrupt detective Vin Makazian in the television series *The Sopranos*, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and critically acclaimed character actor.