Edward Herrmann, "Gilmore Girls" Father, Dies at 71

Edward Herrmann Dead -- Edward Herrmann "Gilmore Girls" Star Dead at 71 -- Edward Herrmann RIP

Actor Edward Herrmann attends the Museum of Television & Radio Presents "Gilmore Girls" 100th Episode Celebration at The Museum of Television & Radio on February 7, 2005 in Beverly Hills. (Credit: Getty Images)

Edward Herrmann, Gilmore Girls Father, Dies at71

Actor Edward Herrmann attends the Museum of Television & Radio Presents "Gilmore Girls" 100th Episode Celebration at The Museum of Television & Radio on February 7, 2005 in Beverly Hills. (Credit: Getty Images)

Edward Herrmann, the versatile, honey-voiced actor whose roles included patricians and politicians such as Gilmore Girls father Richard Gilmore, The Practice law professor Anderson Pearson and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, has died. He was 71.

Herrmann passed away Wednesday at a hospital in New York. The cause of death was a brain tumor, according to his manager, Robbie Kass.

Besides being an accomplished actor, was also a true gentleman and a scholar, as well as being an incredibly kind and decent man. He will be sorely missed, Kass told CNN.

My friend Ed Herrmann was the kindest, classiest, most talented man. It was an honor and a joy to know him, a devastating blow to lose him, tweeted Lauren Graham, who starred as Lorelai Gilmore in Gilmore Girls.

Over a career that stretched over more than four decades, Herrmann was rarely the star but always a standout.

In a 1980 episode of M*A*S*H, he played a visiting surgeon who starts out confident and polished but cant keep up with the pace. In St. Elsewhere, he had a recurring role as Father Joseph McCabe, the sturdy founder of St. Eligius, the shows hospital, who offered guidance to a future doctor. The latter role earned him two Emmy nominations.

And then there was Richard Gilmore, the blue-blooded father of Lorelai Gilmore, whose snappy dialogue often with his daughter or his wife (Kelly Bishop) couldnt hide his big heart, especially when it came to his granddaughter Rory, played by Alexis Bledel.

That relationship was reflected in real life, he told the A.V. Club in 2012.

I was sort of delegated from time to time to look after her, and I was very, very fond of her, he said, noting that Bledel had a number of challenges her first years on the show. One summer, I thought, Shes not going to make it. Shes going to burn out. But then she went to Italy with a friend to learn cooking, and I thought, Shes going to be fine.

Herrmann had his star turns as well. He was nominated twice for Emmys for his portrayal of FDR, first in the TV movie Eleanor and Franklin (1976) and then in the next years Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. (He also played Roosevelt in the 1982 movie version of Annie.)

He won a Tony for his performance in a 1976 revival of George Bernard Shaws Mrs. Warrens Profession. His performance in The Practice led to his only Emmy win.

Even people who didnt recognize him probably knew his mellifluous voice from audiobooks and History Channel documentaries.

But, in general, he was content to be a supporting performer, one of the esteemed and distinctive cadre of performers thought of as character actors. He went easily from role to role his Internet Movie Database page includes 130 credits, including small spots in American Dad, 30 Rock and Drop Dead Diva and he reveled in the work.

In the A.V. Club interview, he expresses enthusiasm for almost everything he appeared in. His co-stars are often great or wonderful, and he has kind words for forgotten films such as Harrys War and his appearance in the maligned 2011 comedy Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star.

Sometimes Im stuck in a straitjacket with suits, playing Alger Hiss and Roosevelt and so on, and I said, These guys are really wonky, and theyre where the kids are these days, so do it! Whats the matter with you? he said. I had a great time.

Recently, Herrmann had been playing Lionel Deerfield in The Good Wife.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Source: http://ktla.com/2014/12/31/edward-herrmann-gilmore-girls-father-dies-at-71/