Agustin Islas "Nicky" Katt (May 11, 1970 – ) was an American and Mexican actor. He began his career as a child actor, and as an adult, frequently played unsympathetic characters or villains. He was known for his starring role as Harry Senate on the television series Boston Public (2000–2002), and his work with directors Richard Linklater and Steven Soderbergh, including subUrbia (1996), Dazed and Confused (1993) and The Limey (1999).
In addition to Linklater and Soderbergh, Katt played prominent supporting roles in multiple films by Robert Rodriguez and Christopher Nolan, including Insomnia (2002) and Sin City (2005). His other film credits included A Time to Kill (1996), Boiler Room and The Way of the Gun (both 2000), and Secondhand Lions (2003).
Early life Katt was born Agustin Islas in Acapulco, Mexico, on May 11, 1970, the son of American costume designer Carol Katt and Mexican musician Agustín Islas, the bassist for the Mexican rock band El Klan. He was raised in the Los Angeles area, attending St. Paul's Lutheran School in North Hollywood before graduating from Providence High School in Burbank.
Career Katt began his career as a child actor, professionally taking his mother's surname. He adopted the name Nicky at the suggestion of comedian Harvey Korman. He made his career debut in a 1980 episode of the television series Fantasy Island, followed by his first film role in Underground Aces (1981), and further TV roles in episodes of CHiPs, Father Murphy, and V.
As an adult, he was known for his role as unorthodox teacher Harry Senate on David E. Kelley's Fox drama series Boston Public. He was often cast as a villain, including as a murderous cop on the take in Monk, an irascible motorhead in Dazed and Confused, an ill-fated white supremacist child rapist in A Time to Kill, and an embittered business rival in Boiler Room. Katt's other roles include Tim in SubUrbia (1996), Stacy the hitman in The Limey (1999), Adolf Hitler in Full Frontal (2002), Fred Duggar in Insomnia (2002), Stuka in Sin City (2005), and Nate Petite in Snow Angels (2008). He voiced the character Atton Rand in Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.
In 2004, he appeared in the Off-Broadway production of the Woody Allen play A Second Hand Memory.
Katt's last acting appearance was a 2018 episode of the television series Casual. In 2020, he participated in a virtual table read with the cast of Dazed and Confused.
Personal life Katt was married to Annie Morse from 1999 until their divorce in 2001. He resided in Ben Lomond, California, in his final years, where he cared for his mother until her death in 2023.
Death Katt was found dead by his landlord who went to collect his overdue rent on April 8, 2025, at his home in Burbank, California. He was 54, and had died by suicide by hanging. Katt appeared to have been dead for several days before his body was discovered.
Several of Katt's former collaborators paid tribute to the actor. Richard Linklater wrote, "Nicky had a deep love for the character actors of cinema history, and I think saw himself that way...I think he probably over-filled all his roles, which makes him memorable...That brilliant spark will be missed." Robert Rodriguez said, "Nicky was an absolute joy on and off the camera. A true artist. A friend."
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1981 Underground Aces Son 1984 Gremlins Schoolchild 1989 The 'Burbs Steve Kuntz 1990 Martians Go HomeHippie 1992 Sister ActWaiter 1993 Dazed and Confused Clint Bruno American Yakuza Vic 1995 The Doom Generation Carnoburger Cashier The Cure "Pony" Strange Days Joey Corto The Babysitter Mark 1996 A Time to Kill Billy Ray Cobb subUrbia Tim Johns"Mix" 1997 Nowhere Scary Drag Queen (as Nicolette Gato)"Nowhere," (Blu-ray Commentary) Commentary by James Duval, Rachel True, Nathan Bexton, Jordan Ladd, Sarah Lassez, Guillermo Diaz, and Jaason Simmons, , [Criterion] (Blu-ray). Batman & Robin "Spike" 1998 Phantoms Deputy Steve Shanning One True Thing Jordan Belzer DeliveredBarry 1999 The Limey Stacy 2000 Boiler Room Greg Weinstein Rules of Engagement Hayes Lawrence Hodges III The Way of the Gun Obecks 2001 Waking Life Himself 2002 Insomnia Detective Fred Duggar Full Frontal Hitler SpeakeasyFrank Marnikov 2003 I Love Your WorkGoateed Man Secondhand Lions Stan School of Rock "Razor" 2004 Riding the Bullet Ferris 2005 Sin City Stuka 2006 World Trade Center Volunteer Fireman 2007 Snow Angels Nate Petite Planet Terror Joe Death Proof Counter Guy The Brave One Detective Vitale 2008 Harold Police Officer #1 The Dark Knight S.W.A.T. Member Uncredited 2011 The Sitter NYPD Officer
Television Year Title Role Notes 1980 Fantasy Island BookieEpisode: "The Devil and Mandy Breem/Instant Millionaire"; uncredited 1981 CHiPs Pat McGuireEpisode: "Diamond in the Rough" Father Murphy Chester2 episodes 1982 Code RedKennyEpisode: "Burnout" Herbie, the Love Bug Matthew MacLane5 episodes Voyagers! Jack, The Artful DodgerEpisode: "The Day the Rebs Took Lincoln" Trapper John, M.D. Scott SpencerEpisode: "The Good Life" 1983 Quincy, M.E. Jeff ReanoEpisode: "Suffer the Little Children" 1984 V Sean Donovan2 episodes The Get Along Gang Leland Lizard (voice)7 episodes CBS Schoolbreak SpecialJeff AnastasEpisode: "Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story" 1988 The Facts of Life MarkEpisode: "Present Imperfect" 1989–90 Dear JohnAmorous Male Student2 episodes 1990 Lifestories Paul AlbertsonEpisode: "The Hawkins Family" 1991 Uncle BuckTommyEpisode: "In Tia We Trust" 1992 Love & WarClerkEpisode: "Bustiers and Body Points" 1994 Knight Rider 2010JohnnyTelevision film 1995 Double Rush NickyEpisode: "The Show We Wrote the Day We Found Out We Were Going on Opposite Roseanne" 1996 Friends ArthurEpisode: "The One with the Bullies" Kindred: The Embraced StarkweatherEpisode: "Nightstalker" 2000–02 Boston Public Harry Senate49 episodes 2003 The Guardian Evan Piscarek2 episodes 2003–04 King of the HillVarious voices3 episodes 2006 Monk Sergeant Ryan SharkeyEpisode: "Mr. Monk and the Captain's Marriage" Love MonkeyNathan KittEpisode: "Confidence" 2007 Law & OrderIsaac "Iced Out Ike" KrantzEpisode: "Bling" 2013 Behind the Candelabra Mr. YTelevision film 2018 Casual CyrilEpisode: "Polytropos"; final role
Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2004 Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords Atton Rand A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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