Roger Rees, R. I. P.

Deadline: Roger Rees, who won Olivier and Tony awards in the early 1980s for his performance as the title character in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, died Friday in New York. The Welsh-born actor, widely known for his recurring roles on Cheers and The West Wing, was 71. He had worked until just weeks ago, when declining health forced him to withdraw from his final role opposite Chita Rivera on Broadway in John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical The Visit. Cause of death has not been reported other than to say that it came after a brief illness.