Gilmore Girls star Edward Herrmann has passed away this morning, following a battle with brain cancer. He was 71.
According to TMZ, which first reported the sad news, Hermmann had been in the ICU in New York City for many weeks. When he continued to show no progress, he was taken off the respirator.
A veteran actor, who was perhaps most well-known for his performance as Richard Gilmore, father to Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and grandfather to Rory (Alexis Bledel) on the long-running WB series Gilmore Girls, Herrmann had an incredible career on both the screen and stage. His TV credits include roles on CBS’s The Good Wife, Harry’s Law, Grey’s Anatomy, Oz, St. Elsewhere, The Practice (a performance that earned him an Emmy) and, just this year, ABC’s Black Box. He also was nominated for two separate Emmys for his portrayal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1976 TV movie Eleanor and Franklin and its 1977 follow-up Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years.
Additionally, Herrmann received two Tony Award nominations for his work on Broadway and won a Tony in 1976 for his performance in George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession. He continued to appear on stage throughout his career, and just as recently as last month, he acted in a Westport Country Playhouse staging of Joanna McClelland’s Trying.
In film, Herrmann starred in 1994’s Richie Rich as the father to the titular character, who was played by Macaulay Culkin, and he also appeared as Max, the villain of the 1987 film The Lost Boys.
Herrmann leaves behind his second wife, Star, who he had been married to for 22 years. He is survived by three children.
[Photo via Warner Bros.]
Follow Us
