Tony-Award Winning Actor Ron Silver Dies at 62

by Edmund Jenks | March 16, 2009 at 05:37 am

470 views | 56 Recommendations | 9 comments

Tweets from Twitter:

All the Ron Silver obits I've read focus on his political leanings rather than his brilliant performances over the years.

R.I.P. Ron Silver. So many great roles, but my fave was his take on Alan Dershowitz in "Reversal of Fortune"

ActorsEquity: mourning past president of AEA, Ron Silver.

RIP Ron Silver, one of my favourite actors. His work on The West Wing was pure brilliance. I'll miss him greatly.

Ron Silver Photos, Bio, News and Ron Silver Messages - http://tinyurl.com/c3nz7b

Sad news. Ron Silver, great actor has passed. Worked with him once briefly. Very funny. Very daring. Great guy. RIP, Ron.

Ron Silver overleden: De acteur is in zijn slaap overleden na een gevecht van 2 jaar tegen slokdarmkanker. http://www.filmtotaal.nl/artikel.php?id=13333

popfeed: [perezhilton] Actor Ron Silver Passes Away http://tinyurl.com/c2o6ka

Actor Ron Silver, who won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" and did a political about-face from loyal Democrat to Republican activist after the Sept. 11 attacks, 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 Mr. Silver helped found. "He had been fighting esophageal cancer for two years."

Mr. Silver, an Emmy nominee for a recurring role as a slick strategist for liberal President Jed Bartlet on "The West Wing," had a long history of balancing acting with left-leaning social and political causes.

But after the 2001 terrorist attacks, longtime Democrat Silver turned heads in Hollywood with outspoken support of President George W. Bush over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Silver spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention, began referring to himself as a "9/11 Republican" and reregistered as an independent.

"Under the unwavering leadership of President Bush, the cause of freedom and democracy is being advanced by the courageous men and women serving in our armed services," Mr. Silver said at the Republican convention. "The president is doing exactly the right thing. That is why we need this president at this time."

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Uwe Paschen

at 05:57 on March 16th, 2009

Cancer is taking way to many way to young.

Edmund Jenks

at 09:59 on March 16th, 2009

Ron Silver was a man who was not afraid to state what he believed and why.

This, in a very public industry, where alliances and political thought are used a discernment on character and potentials for roles. It is easy to get blacklisted in this town for just standing up on behalf of smaller, more responsible Government and the expansion of personal freedom.

Fred Miller

at 08:57 on March 16th, 2009

Thanks for this article and all the videos. It seems that Ron's work was a case of Art imitates life which is probably what he wanted. It's going to be a project to go through the vids and I hope I succeed :-)

Swan

at 09:41 on March 16th, 2009

Hello Ed,

This news has saddened me deeply. In my opinion, Ron Silver was one of those actors who had always been underestimated by the big movie companies and casting agents. He has always missed out being a major player, and I've never understood why.

Not that he was on the same rank as Olivier, but his acting style always reminded me of Olivier, whom I always believed, even to this day, to be the greatest actor in the world.

You always got the impression that if Silver looked at you, he would be able to see deep into your soul.

RIP Ron ....
~ Swan

djsblack

at 13:43 on March 16th, 2009

Very tragic, he was so young. My understanding that Patrick Swayze is also very ill. Only the good die young, apparently.

Fred Miller

at 14:01 on March 16th, 2009

That's nice to say 'only the good....' but are you including Ron Silver (62) here along with Patrick Swayze (56) ? If you are, then you are too kind !

Blaine Metzgar

at 14:30 on March 16th, 2009

Ben Stiller's reaction to Silver's passing on Huffington Post, "Ron knew we were bored and asked if I wanted a little vodka in my Coke. Amy had some too. She also had a huge crush on Ron... because he was cool. We had a great time. Nothing too crazy. I didn't end up an alky, and things worked out ok... and I always loved Ron for that. He treated us like people, even though we weren't yet." Full post here.

harringtola

at 16:17 on March 16th, 2009

I had not heard. Very young. I had no idea he had cancer of the esophagus. I had been thinking recently that I had not seen him in anything new. No wonder. Very sad but thanks for this news.

meropa

at 09:15 on March 29th, 2009

I took this shot at Paparazzi, an Italian restaurant in Plano, Texas. Being a fan of Ben Stiller's "Heat Vision and Jack", in which Ron Silver appears as himself (aka "the bad guy from Time Cop"), I giggled when I ran across this autographed photo on the wall while dining. I hope that Mr. Silver will be remembered for many years as more than just that "bad guy from Time Cop".

meropa has contributed a photo to this story.