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  "path": "/2026/04/14/hollywood-actor-attacked-ex-a-day-early-release-jail-dies-27973934/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-14T13:09:23.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
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    "drugs",
    "crime",
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  "textContent": "Jason Hoganson, 55, had a leading role in the 1988 film Empire State, playing a Geordie drifter called Pete (Picture: David Allison 5510)\n\n**A former Hollywood actor who attacked his ex a day after leaving prison under the government’s early release scheme has died.**\n\nJason Hoganson, 55, had a leading role in the 1988 film Empire State, playing a Geordie drifter called Pete, alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau.\n\nBut his life spiralled out of control and he fell into an existence of drink, drugs and crime.\n\nHeavily tattooed Hoganson was back in the spotlight when he was released from HMP Durham early in September 2024 as part of the government’s plan to ease overcrowding in prisons.\n\nIt later emerged he had been freed in error after serving half of an 18-month sentence for assaulting his ex-partner Rachel Usher and breaching a restraining order.\n\n##  Sign up for all of the latest stories\n\nStart your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens.\n\nA day after his release he was arrested in Newcastle’s West End after going to Ms Usher’s flat and allegedly slapping her.\n\nHe later appealed the case.\n\nR W Barrett & Son Funeral Services have now confirmed that Hoganson passed away unexpectedly on April 4.\n\nIn a Facebook post, he was described as: ‘Dad of Jade, Kitt, Michael, Charlotte and Clarice. Treasured Son of Maureen and the late Ronnie. Also, a dear brother of Michael, Layland and Kelly. Jason will be very dearly missed.’\n\nHoganson’s funeral will be on April 28 at the West Road Crematorium in Newcastle.\n\nJason Hoganson seen outside HM Prison Durham (Picture: PA)\n\nWhen he was released from prison he said: ‘I feel the same way I do every time I get out – nothing.\n\n‘I must have done around 27 years across the last 32.\n\n‘They had me in for a domestic with my missus this time. I’ve done eight-and-a-half months on remand.\n\n‘My missus writes to me. She is beautiful and of course I am going to go back to her.\n\n‘I’m honestly not a bad person. I don’t deny slapping my lass but it’s when I’m away from her she gets hurt off other people taking drugs.\n\n‘They wanted to send me to Sheffield after my release but that’s out of order.’\n\nHoganson claimed he wouldn’t be celebrating his release and said the prisons aren’t how they used to be.\n\nHe added: ‘These places aren’t a deterrent anymore unless you’re a life sentence prisoner.\n\n‘This country is never going to get any better. People get out and what do they have?\n\n‘The jails have got TVs, series and everything you could ever want.\n\n‘When I started there was slop and all sorts but it’s dramatically changed over the last 30 years.’\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Hollywood actor who attacked ex a day after early release from jail dies"
}