John Quade—best remembered for his role as the bumbling tough guy Cholla in the Clint Eastwood-led action-comedy Every Which Way But Loose—led a life full of surprising turns and enduring performances. Before stepping into the spotlight, John Quade actually built a career as an aerospace engineer, a fact that makes his later journey into Hollywood all the more fascinating. His entry into acting came in the late 1960s with a series of guest appearances on television, and from there, John Quade quickly proved he had staying power. Over the course of three decades, John Quade appeared in no fewer than 108 film and TV productions, steadily building a reputation as a reliable and memorable character actor.

It was in 1973 that John Quade first crossed paths with Clint Eastwood during the filming of the gritty Western thriller High Plains Drifter. Though his part was minor, it marked the beginning of a recurring collaboration. Three years later, John Quade returned to work with Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales, another Western that earned critical acclaim and even an Oscar nomination. Then, in 1978, John Quade landed what would become his most iconic role: Cholla, the comically inept antagonist constantly clashing with Eastwood—and yes, the orangutan Clyde—in Every Which Way But Loose. The film’s success led to a sequel two years later, Any Which Way You Can, where John Quade once again stepped into Cholla’s boots, delivering laughs and swagger in equal measure.

After these high-profile roles, John Quade continued working steadily, mostly in television, taking on one-off roles that showcased his rugged presence and natural charisma. He also co-starred in the offbeat family comedy And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird, a quirky story about brothers whose robot is haunted by their late father’s spirit—a role that let John Quade flex his comedic timing in a different kind of absurdity.

By 1993, after a long and colorful run in the industry, John Quade decided it was time to step back. His final acting role came in the short-lived sitcom Lucky Luke, a Western that, while not a hit, allowed John Quade to go out on a genre he knew well. In his later years, John Quade shifted focus from entertainment to advocacy, becoming increasingly vocal about his Christian faith and his concerns over how modern politics had drifted from the values of America’s founding fathers.

John Quade passed away in 2009, leaving behind a legacy that spanned engineering, acting, and activism. From aerospace labs to movie sets to public speaking platforms, John Quade lived a full and varied life—one that continues to resonate with fans who remember him not just as Cholla, but as a man who embraced every chapter with conviction.