Boothe was born in Snyder, Texas and started his acting career in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival after he graduated from college. He went on to have a prolific character acting career in both television and film.
Actor Beau Bridges tweeted about Boothe yesterday, saying, "It's with great sadness that I mourn the passing of my friend Powers Boothe. A dear friend, a great actor, devoted father & husband."
Boothe portrayed cowboy Curly Bill Brocious in the 1993 Western "Tombstone" and saloon owner Cy Tolliver in HBO's "Deadwood".
He leaves behind a wife, Marlene, and four children, Parisse Boothe, Reuben Travis Boothe, Preston Allen and Reginald Paul Boothe.