Pulp Fiction Co-Writer Remembers Stephen Hibbert with Touching Message Highlighting His Role in Quentin Tarantino’s Classic.
The family of actor Stephen Hibbert confirmed his death in a statement shared by Rolling Stone and Fox News Digital, stating he passed away after suffering a heart attack.
According to international media reports, his death occurred earlier this month. “Our father passed away unexpectedly this week. His life was full of love and dedication to the arts and his family. He will be deeply missed by many.”
While Stephen Hibbert had a long career as a writer – contributing to credits on Boy Meets World through Animaniacs – and appeared in films like Austin Powers and series such as True Jackson, he became widely known for his role as The Gimp in Quentin Tarantino’s classic Pulp Fiction. The film, released in 1994, remains a touchstone of independent cinema and a defining perform of the decade.
Despite his character not speaking or revealing his face, he found the extensive time spent on set in a full leather suit to be physically demanding.
Pulp Fiction Co-Writer Remembers Stephen Hibbert
Roger Avary, co-writer of Pulp Fiction, learned of the news and shared a heartfelt message on his X account: “I’m absolutely stunned to hear that Stephen Hibbert, the gentleman who played the Gimp in Pulp Fiction has passed away.”
“Eli Roth (director) and I were just with him at Days of the Dead Atlanta. He was at the table next to me and was genuinely a wonderful fellow. He took my role as The Gimp… when I decided that Quentin was going to prank me and lock me in that box during lunch with a ball gag in my mouth. So Stephen stepped in and really brought that latex-covered character to life. I’m saddened by his passing, but I’m grateful to have known him and to call him a friend.”
I’m absolutely stunned to hear that Stephen Hibbert, the gentleman who played the Gimp in Pulp Fiction has passed away. Eli Roth and I were just with him at Days of the Dead Atlanta. He was at the table next to me and was genuinely a wonderful fellow. He took my role as The Gimp… pic.twitter.com/ntPmu04SOi
— Roger Avary (@AVARY) March 7, 2026
His Friendship with Quentin Tarantino
In 2024, Hibbert expressed his joy in working with Quentin Tarantino and recounted how he came to portray The Gimp in Pulp Fiction:
“We were basically cinephiles. We’d proceed to the New Beverly Cinema (decades before the filmmaker bought it) and watch a screening of Stagecoach or something. And at one point, during pre-production of Pulp Fiction, he gave me the script to read… ‘Why don’t you come read the part of The Gimp?’ He knew I was an improviser and actor, as well as a friend and writer.”
During the audition, “I played my master, in a strange sadomasochistic triangle… We did a little scene where he was giving me orders… By the time I got home – this was in 1993 – there was a message on the answering machine: ‘Hey, you got the part. Let’s do it.’ It was a three-day shoot and it was incredible working with those actors: Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Duane Whitaker and Peter Greene (who passed away in 2025).”
