Former Actor Jason Hoganson Dies at 55

Jason Hoganson, a former actor from Newcastle who starred in the 1987 film Empire State, has died at the age of 55. His unexpected death occurred on April 4, 2025, as confirmed by R W Barrett and Son Funeral Services, with a funeral scheduled for April 28 at the West Road Crematorium in Newcastle.

Hoganson portrayed Pete, a Geordie drifter, in the film alongside actors including Ray McAnally and Martin Landau. After his brief time in Hollywood, his life took a downward turn marked by struggles with alcohol, drugs and criminal activity. He accumulated more than 100 convictions over the years, including for burglary. In a 2012 interview, Hoganson attributed his troubles to associating with the wrong crowd.

In 2024, Hoganson was serving an 18-month sentence at HMP Durham for assaulting his former partner, Rachel Usher, and breaching a restraining order. The sentence stemmed from an incident captured on doorbell camera footage, in which he struck her multiple times and knocked her to the ground. Court documents detailed their six-year relationship, during which Hoganson frequently became violent toward her.

As part of a government initiative to address prison overcrowding, Hoganson...