Actor Ron Leibman has passed away at the age of 82 after a tough battle with pneumonia, leaving behind his family including wife Jessica.
The star is well-known for his roles in Christmas Eve, Norma Rae, Law and Order, Up the Academy, Where’s Poppa? and Garden State.
He also gained popularity after appearing in TV show ‘Friends’ where he played Rachel Green’s grumpy father Dr. Leonard Green.
Following the passing, Leibman’s agent confirmed the rumors and branded the 82-year-old as “an incredibly talented actor.”
“We at Abrams Artists Agency are saddened to hear the news of Ron’s passing,” the agent’s statement obtained by The Wrap read.
“Ron was an incredibly talented actor with a distinguished career in film, TV and theatre. Our thoughts go out to his wife, Jessica, and his family.”
Back in 1993, Leibman received a Tony Award, whereas the organizers posted a tribute to the actor on their Twitter account after his death.
“So sad to hear that Ron Leibman has passed away. The stage, film, and TV star won a Tony Award as Best Actor in a Play for creating the role of Roy Cohn in Angels in America. Rest in peace,” they wrote.
Eight years ago, the actor has also opened up about his role in Friends and admitted he first didn’t want to have anything to do with the show at all.
“The thing I can say about that is I had never seen the show when they asked me to do it. I’m not a big television-watcher. It sounded stupid to me, so I turned it down. And my daughter, then, who was of that age, said, ‘No, you have to do it, you have to do it! I love that show, and I want to meet those kids,’” Leibman told AV Club.
“I said, ‘All right. I’ll do it. I’ll do it once, but that’s all I’m doing.’ So I did, and had a very nice time, and they asked me back, and my daughter did get to meet those kids, so I was a big hero in the house.”
What are your thoughts on this news? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends and follow us on Facebook for more news and stories!
Replaced!