Monday, March 16, 2009
Ron Silver, R. I. P.
Ron Silver (I) - News: "Actor Ron Silver, who won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet's 'Speed-the-Plow,' died Sunday at the age of 62. 'Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning' in New York City, said Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Silver helped found. 'He had been fighting esophageal cancer for two years.' Silver's big-screen credits included 'Ali,' 'Reversal of Fortune,' 'Enemies: A Love Story,' 'Silkwood' and 'Semi-Tough.' Besides 'The West Wing,' Silver was a regular or had recurring roles on such TV shows as 'Veronica's Closet,' 'Chicago Hope' and 'Wiseguy.' He directed and co-starred in the 1993 TV movie 'Lifepod,' a science-fiction update of Alfred Hitchcock's 'Lifeboat.' 'He was a talented actor, a scholar and a great believer in participatory democracy,' Bronk said Sunday evening. 'He was an activist who became a great artist and his contributions will never be forgotten."
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3 comments:
hautsteI was never much of a fan of the old "Rhoda" show but I do have fond memories of Silver playing this terrible lounge singer who lost his voice because he was so down on himself. Rhoda taught him the old get-in-with-your-feelings routine, which Silver did. And then when he turned all his real feelings into show biz schmaltz his voice came back. I still remember his great line about opening night: "I can see it now--a bare stage and there'll I'll be in a simple purple jumpsuit telling them all about myself." Yes, there is something about simple purple jumpsuits that put you in the mind for truth telling. I was sorry to see his conversion to the full mooners but he was a good actor and--I knew a few guys who'd worked with him over the years--apparently a damned nice guy. He should've had a lot more years.
I saw Silver in Speed the Plow way back in the day (with Joe Montegna and, of all people, Madonna) ... Mamet and Silver and Montegna were a magical combination.
Great actor and a true independent who didn't feel the need to fall in lockstep with Hollywood popular opinion.
Three (or two?) degrees of separation from Silver -- I knew the safety/health guy from the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic workers union on whom Silver's intense character in SILKWOOD was based.
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