Horror icon Sid Haig passed away due to a lung infection on Saturday, September 21. The actor, famous for his roles in films such as Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses, was 80 years old. The heartbreaking news came just one week after the release of his latest film, “3 From Hell.”

“My heart, my true love, my King, the other half of my soul, Sidney, passed from this realm on to the next,” Haig’s wife, Susan L. Oberg, said on the late actor’s Instagram account.

Oberg continued, “He was my angel, my husband, my best friend and always will be. He adored his family, his friends and his fans. This came as a shock to all of us. We, as a family, are asking that our privacy and time to mourn be respected.”

From music to movies

Born Sidney Eddie Mosesian in Fresno, Calif., Haig developed an interest in the arts at an early age. In high school he took part in theatrical and dance activities, then later enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse to study acting. Though initially a drummer for the band T-Birds in the 1950s, Haig eventually found success in the film industry. He starred alongside Lon Chaney Jr. in 1967’s “Spider Baby” and played a judge in Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown,” in addition to appearing on various television shows.

Possibly Haig’s most infamous role was that of Captain Spaulding, the murderous clown in Zombie’s “House of 1,000 Corpses.” The character solidified Haig’s status as a cult icon in the horror genre and earned him many loyal fans.

“We were both having a good laugh at this crummy, ill-fitting clown suit,” Zombie said on Instagram after posting a photo of Haig and himself.

“It took a few tries to get his look right, but we got there,” Zombie continued. “Who knew that crazy clown would become an iconic horror figure? Certainly not the two guys in the picture.”

Haig worked with Zombie multiple times after …Corpses and reprised his role as Captain Spaulding in “The Devil’s Rejects” and “3 From Hell.”

In August, Haig received the Vincent Price Award for Excellence, a prestigious honor in the world of horror.

“To be a part of the Horror community gives me great pleasure, and joy,” Haig said in a post to his fans, announcing the award. “You are the best and I thank you.”