In 1984, when he turned 58, Stanton not only starred in Paris, Texas - his first role ever as leading man - but in Alex Cox's popular cult film Repo Man.
The movie, penned by Sam Shepard, was the darling of the Cannes Film Festival, capturing not only the Palme d'Or but other juried awards as well.
Stanton was close friends with Jack Nicholson and was best man at Nicholson's 1962 wedding. They shared a house for more than two years after Nicholson's divorce.
Stanton never married, though he said he had "one or two children".
He died of natural causes on Friday in Los Angeles.
Tributes are already pouring in on social media as friends, family and the entertainment industry mourn this loss:
