Daniel von Bargen's career began in the 1970s on television, and by the 1990s, he landed a role in "The Silence of the Lambs." Granted, it wasn't a big part, but he continued to appear in significant movies throughout his life. His credits include "Basic Instinct," "Six Degrees of Separation," and "Crimson Tide," among many others. Throughout the '90s, von Bargen was all over the small screen with appearances on "Seinfeld," "Party of Five," and "The X-Files."
Von Bargen was a talented character actor, and his role in "Malcolm in the Middle" was somehow serious and hilarious at the same time. Von Bargen played Commandant Edwin Spangler, the man in charge of the cadets at Marlin Academy, where Francis spends much of his time. He and Francis often went up against one another, and in the end, Francis accidentally chops off the Commandant's hand, which wasn't great, seeing as he lost the other hand sometime in the past.
After "Malcolm in the Middle," von Bargen worked intermittently while afflicted with diabetes. He lost a leg to the disease and would also lose several toes. Per ABC News, In February 2012, von Bargen survived an apparent suicide attempt, which he explained to the emergency dispatcher occurred because he didn't want to go to the hospital, where he was set to undergo additional amputations. The Washington Post reports that Von Bargen died in March 2015 of undisclosed causes.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
