You probably remember him behind the wheel of a sand jeep, barreling across the North African desert with a .50-caliber machine gun mounted in the back. Justin Tarr, born Howard Kenneth Barnes, was the rugged, Kentucky-born wheelman Tully Pettigrew on the 1960s cult classic The Rat Patrol. He wasn't just playing a driver; he was a guy who actually knew his way around an engine, a former hot-rodder who sold his car just to pay for acting school.
But for years, fans have been scratching their heads. Why did he disappear from Hollywood? And more importantly, what actually happened at the end?
There is a lot of misinformation floating around the internet about the Justin Tarr cause of death. Some sites confuse him with a younger man from Ohio who passed away in 2015. Others link him to the tragic, early death of his co-star Christopher George. Honestly, the real story is much quieter, set against the backdrop of the islands he loved.
The Hawaii Connection and the Surfing Accident
Justin Tarr died on July 26, 2012, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was 72 years old.
While official medical reports for public figures from that era aren't always splashed across the front pages like they are today, the prevailing report from those close to the veteran community and local Hawaiian sources is that Tarr died following a surfing accident.
It’s almost poetic, in a weird way.
👉 See also: Pat Lalama Journalist Age: Why Experience Still Rules the Newsroom
The man who spent his youth racing hot rods in Texas and Colorado, and his prime years performing high-speed stunts in the California desert, spent his final years as a "frequent visitor" and eventual resident of Hawaii. He was an athlete through and through. In high school, he excelled at the shotput and boxing. That physical energy didn't just go away when the cameras stopped rolling.
He didn't die in a hospital bed from a long, lingering illness. He died doing something active in the ocean. For a guy who lived his life with a certain level of "Texan" grit—as his co-stars often described him—it fits the persona.
The "Rat Patrol" Curse?
You can't talk about Justin Tarr’s health without mentioning the 1967 accident. This is where the confusion usually starts.
During the filming of The Rat Patrol at a dry lake bed in Rosamond, California, Tarr was at the wheel of the Jeep. He made a tight turn, and the tires broke through the crust of the lake bed. The vehicle flipped.
- Christopher George (Sgt. Sam Troy) suffered a heart contusion and a concussion.
- Gary Raymond (Sgt. Jack Moffitt) broke his ankle.
- Justin Tarr was also injured, though less severely than George.
Many fans mistakenly believe this accident was the direct Justin Tarr cause of death. It wasn't. However, that crash did change things. Christopher George eventually died of a heart attack in 1983, and many believe the chest injuries from that Jeep flip contributed to his early passing at age 52.
✨ Don't miss: Why Sexy Pictures of Mariah Carey Are Actually a Masterclass in Branding
Tarr, on the other hand, lived another 45 years. He didn't let the "curse" of the show take him down early.
Why He Left Hollywood
He was kinda done with the "game" early on.
Even during the second season of The Rat Patrol, Tarr was planning his exit. He was actually absent from several episodes because he wanted out. After the show ended in 1968, he did a few things—most notably playing Eddy the informant in Steve McQueen’s Bullitt—but he didn't chase the limelight.
He was a man of many talents. Did you know he was a licensed hairdresser? It's true. He used to cut the hair of his co-stars on set.
Basically, he moved to Hawaii to live a private life. He had children with Greek names—Achilles being one of them—inspired by his fascination with ancient history. He wasn't interested in being a "has-been" actor. He wanted to be a guy in Hawaii.
🔗 Read more: Lindsay Lohan Leak: What Really Happened with the List and the Scams
Sorting Fact From Fiction
If you go searching for the Justin Tarr cause of death today, you might run into an obituary for a Justin H. Tarr from Willowick, Ohio. That Justin passed away in 2015 at the age of 48. That is not the actor. Our Justin Tarr (the actor) was born in Amarillo, Texas, in 1940. He was a veteran of the screen and a man who lived a full, 72-year life before his 2012 passing in Honolulu.
It's easy for these digital records to get tangled up. But for the fans of 1960s action TV, the record is clear: he was a man who lived fast, survived a famous on-set disaster, and ultimately found peace in the Pacific.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a fan looking to honor his memory, skip the gossip sites and do these two things:
- Watch Bullitt (1968): Look for him as Eddy. It’s his best work outside of the Jeep.
- Verify the Date: If you see "2015" or "Ohio" in a biography, you're looking at the wrong person. Stick to the 2012 Honolulu records.
Justin Tarr lived life on his own terms. He was more than just a character in a helmet; he was a Texan who found his way to the waves of Hawaii, leaving behind a legacy of desert dust and cinematic cool.