Edward Herrmann | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Edward Kirk Herrmann (1943-07-21)July 21, 1943 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 2014(2014-12-31) (aged 71) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations | Actor, director, writer |
| Years active | 1971–2014 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Edward Kirk Herrmann (July 21, 1943 – December 31, 2014) was an American actor, director, and writer. He was best known for his portrayals ofFranklin D. Roosevelt in both the miniseriesEleanor and Franklin (1976) and 1982 film musicalAnnie,Richard Gilmore inAmy Sherman-Palladino's comedy-drama seriesGilmore Girls (2000–2007), and a ubiquitous narrator for historical programs onThe History Channel[1] and in suchPBS productions asNova.[2] He was also known in the 1990s as a spokesman forDodge automobiles.[3][4]
Herrmann started working in theatre onBroadway in 1972 with his debut inMoonchildren alongsideJames Woods. He received twoTony Award nominations, winning forBest Featured Actor in a Play for his performance inMrs. Warren's Profession at the30th Tony Awards in 1976. Herrmann received fivePrimetime Emmy Award nominations, winning forOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his performance inThe Practice at the51st Primetime Emmy Awards in 1999. He also received aScreen Actors Guild Award nomination forBest Ensemble in a Motion Picture with the cast ofOliver Stone'sNixon (1995) at the2nd Screen Actor's Guild Awards. Herrmann became known as a character actor having appeared in various films such asWarren Beatty'sReds (1981),Woody Allen'sThe Purple Rose of Cairo (1985),Garry Marshall'sOverboard (1987),Joel Schumacher'sThe Lost Boys (1987),Martin Scorsese'sThe Aviator (2004) andChris Rock'sI Think I Love My Wife (2007).
Edward Herrmann was born on July 21, 1943, inWashington, D.C., the son of Jean Eleanor (née O'Connor) and John Anthony Herrmann.[5] Of German and Irish descent, Herrmann grew up inGrosse Pointe, Michigan. He graduated fromBucknell University[6] in 1965, where he was a member ofPhi Kappa Psi. He studied acting at theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art on aFulbright Fellowship.[7]
Herrmann began his career in theatre. One of the first professional productions he appeared in was the U.S. premiere ofMichael Weller'sMoonchildren at theArena Stage in Washington, D.C., in November 1971.[8] He moved with the show to New York City to make hisBroadway debut the following year. Herrmann returned to Broadway in 1976 to portray Frank Gardner in the revival of 'Bernard Shaw'sMrs. Warren's Profession. For his performance he won aTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play at the30th Tony Awards.[9]
Herrmann andDianne Wiest collaborated as directors on theWilliamstown Theater Festival in its 1985 offeringNot About Heroes,[10] playing Siegfried Sassoon alongsideDylan Baker as Wilfred Owen.Frank Rich praised the performance: "If Mr. Baker's Wilfred is a bit of an uncomplicated, foursquare boy scout and if Mr. Herrmann's stiff-upper-lipped Siegfried at first arouses deja vu, they form a passionate symbiosis as the darker clouds gather in Act II. Both actors also have a natural way with the rhetoric of their characters' respective canons."[11] During 1988, Herrmann appeared in the New York productionJulius Caesar asGaius Cassius Longinus.[12] Herrmann stated he had joined after becoming tired with constantly having to wear a suit in his prior roles and finding Cassius the most complex of the available roles.[13] Frank Rich opined that Herrmann was the "liveliest of the leads by far" and that he would be better suited in the role ofMarcus Junius Brutus.[14] In 1988–89, Herrmann starred withAlec Guinness in the LondonWest End production ofA Walk in the Woods. The play debuted at theComedy Theatre in November 1988, and was directed byRonald Eyre. AsThe New York Times reported, "Mr. Guinness and Mr. Herrmann share the stage uninterrupted for some two hours. The fictional play is rooted in the real-life relationship between a Soviet diplomat and an American negotiator who broke protocol in 1982 and made a private limited arms control deal while taking a stroll in a forest outsideGeneva."[15]
Herrmann was known for his portrayal ofFranklin D. Roosevelt in the television filmsEleanor and Franklin (1976) andEleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977)[16] (both of which earned him nominations for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie), as well as in the first feature film adaptation of the Broadway musicalAnnie (1982).[17] Reflecting on becoming involved withEleanor and Franklin, Herrmann reflected, "It was a gift. You never get a script that good. Or a cast that good, or a director that good, or a designer that good, or a sponsor that good. And all on the same project? It was just blessed."[18] Joseph McAuley said of Herrmann's casting, "To a generation growing up watching television and the movies, Edward Herrmann was the personification of FDR. As an actor, he stood head and shoulders above everybody else (literally—he was 6'5") and he was an inspired choice to play theDepression era/World War II president for a generation who never knew the real man who had long since become an historical figure."[19]Emily VanDerWerff wrote that while she foundAnnie to be a mediocre film, "Herrmann's warm charm as FDR shines through. He's a kind, compassionate fellow, in a film that's all about the power of positive feeling and kindness."[20]
In 1980 Herrmann starred in "Heal Thyself", aseason 8 episode ofM*A*S*H as Captain Steven J. Newsome, an army surgeon suffering from PTSD, and in 1987 he portrayed Grant Stayton III inOverboard and Max inThe Lost Boys.He was nominated for aTony Award for Best Actor in a Play forPlenty at the37th Tony Awards in 1983[21] and thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 1986 and 1987 for two guest-starring appearances as Father Joseph McCabe onSt. Elsewhere.[22] In 1984, Herrmann playedAlger Hiss in thePBSdocudramaConcealed Enemies.[23][24] During a break from filming, Herrmann praised the production: "This is perhaps the most ambitious thing public television has ever done. They were a little nervous about it, because of the cost. But they shouldn't have worried. It smacks of the real thing."[25]
Herrmann appeared in the 1994 television filmDon't Drink the Water.[26]Ken Tucker wrote, "In smaller roles, veteran character actorsAustin Pendleton,Josef Sommer, and Edward Herrmann nail their lines like the seasoned pros they are."[27] Herrmann portrayedHerman Munster in theFox made-for-television filmHere Come the Munsters,[28] which aired onHalloween in 1995. Herrmann found the script "silly and funny" and wanted to play a clown again, though also admitting a lack of prior involvement with the originalThe Munsters: "I was way too old. I was out of college. I was going to be an actor. I have always admiredFred, but no, I wasn't swept up inMunstermania at all. I didn't have a lunch box."[29] In observing the plot ofHere Come the Munsters, Herrmann was reminded of American family values, seeing the production as parodying such beliefs: "In our screenplay, the Munsters arrive here as refugees. We resist attempts to kick us out of the country by a vicious politician who keeps saying, 'America for Americans!'"[30]David Flint[31] and Nick Smithson[32] positively commented on the accuracy of his likeness. He played Harrison Beacher,Tobias Beecher (Lee Tergesen)'s father onOz.[33] Herrmann earned aPrimetime Emmy at the51st Primetime Emmy Awards in 1999 for his guest appearances onThe Practice.[34] Also in 1999, Herrmann appeared as President Fellwick in the television miniseriesAtomic Train.[35][36] Ray Richmond commented that Herrmann "makes a swell U.S. President, reassuring and authoritative".[37]
For two episodes in 2007, Herrmann portrayed Dr. Norman Shales, a strikingly old intern, onABC'sGrey's Anatomy. From 2000 to 2007, he portrayed Richard Gilmore onThe WB'sGilmore Girls.[38] Series creatorAmy Sherman-Palladino said Herrmann had been the first choice to play the character and came in to read the script despite his agent saying he would not: "We sat there in stunned silence as Ed opened the script and proceeded to read. And just like that, Richard Gilmore was sitting in front of us."[39][40] The audition had taken place in New York City; casting director Jill Anthony said his audition and that ofKelly Bishop (who was cast as his character's wifeEmily Gilmore) were vastly superior to others trying to procure the same roles.[41] Bishop said she gained a friendship with Herrmann based on their similarities: "We, obviously, were older [than the rest of the cast]. But we were also New York actors, and we connected very well. We always did our crossword puzzles together in the hair-and-makeup room."[42][43] Both Herrmann and Bishop were alsoTony Award recipients in 1976.[44]Alexis Bledel, who portrayed his character's granddaughterRory Gilmore, recalled Herrmann's extensive knowledge and habits during breaks from filming: "Ed was so knowledgeable about theater, TV, and film, and what I remember most is how he would share so much of this knowledge. He loved talking about it so we had those long Friday-night dinner scenes where we'd be sitting at a table all day, and he would share so much."[45] Herrmann enjoyed the relationship between his character and that of Bledel,[46] and was disappointed by the series finale "Bon Voyage".[47] Caryn James assessed that Herrmann and Bishop succeeded in making their characters likeable[48] while Sarah Schweppe wrote that Herrmann "was such a comforting presence on this show."[49]
In October 2013, Herrmann made an appearance onHow I Met Your Mother in theninth season episode "Knight Vision", playing a minister Reverend Lowell.[50][51]
Herrmann's death was written in via his character Richard in the 2016 revival ofGilmore Girls,Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.[52][53]Lauren Graham, Herrmann's costar onGilmore Girls, said, "He would have loved this [new series]. His death was just a loss for us personally. It's given the show a new complexity and depth. It's a nice tribute to him."[54][55] Sherman-Palladino toldEntertainment Weekly, "It's safe to say that the death of Richard Gilmore, the death of Ed Herrmann, looms large over everything."[56]Scott Patterson, another costar, agreed with Sherman-Palladino: "[Herrmann's death] left a big void, but Amy honored it beautifully. He's throughout ... these stories. It's a wonderful homage to him as a person and to his character as well. It's nice to have him around."[57] After concluding filming, Bishop said of Herrmann, "There was a space where he was supposed to be, so he certainly was with us, and he's very prevalent in the show so that will make everybody happy I think, who'll miss him, but I'm sorry he couldn't be with us."[58]
Herrmann's film career began in the mid-1970s, playing supporting roles including Ezra Stiles, Waldo Pepper (Robert Redford)'s partner inThe Great Waldo Pepper,[59] law student Thomas Craig Anderson inThe Paper Chase,[60] the idle, piano-playing Klipspringer inThe Great Gatsby[61] and oppositeLaurence Olivier inThe Betsy (1978).[62] He again portrayed President Roosevelt inAnnie.
Herrmann played the lead in the 1979Kieth Merrill film,Take Down, in the role of Ed Branish, a high-school English teacher turned wrestling coach. Among Herrmann's better known roles are as the title character Harry Johnson in another Kieth Merrill film,Harry's War (1981),[63] Grant Slayton III, the philandering husband ofGoldie Hawn's character Joanna Mintz Stayton inOverboard,[64] Reverend Michael Hill inDisney'sThe North Avenue Irregulars,[65] Henry, one of the characters in the film-within-a-film inWoody Allen'sThe Purple Rose of Cairo,[66] and as Max, the mild-mannered headvampire inThe Lost Boys.[67] He played Graham Sherbourne, the corporate foil toBette Midler andLily Tomlin's mismatched twins Sadie and Rose Shelton/Ratliff in their 1988 comedyBig Business. In 1993, Herrmann appeared inBorn Yesterday.[68] He was offered praise for the role, Vincent Canby citing him as one of the four actors heading "the excellent supporting cast",[69] and Malcolm Johnson writing Herrmann andFred Dalton Thompson had the "most convincing performances".[70] Herrmann appeared in the following year'sForeign Student, released on July 29, 1994.[71] Kevin Thomas commented, "Edward Herrmann, so often a fine actor, emerges as a caricature of the tweedy, pipe-smoking professor".[72] Herrmann portrayedNelson Rockefeller in the 1995 filmNixon.[73][74] Herrmann appeared in the 1998 filmBetter Living as Jack, a priest who becomes a family counselor. Oliver Jones wrote that Herrmann was in "a rare comic form" in the role.[75]
Herrmann also had a supporting role asWilliam Randolph Hearst in the 2001 filmThe Cat's Meow, starringKirsten Dunst asMarion Davies.[76]A. O. Scott praised Herrmann as performing "with remarkable emotional agility"[77] while Kevin Thomas noted the resemblance Herrmann had to Hearst as being better than some of his costars.[78] Herrmann had a small role asJoseph Breen in the 2004 filmThe Aviator,[79] being assessed by Rich Drees as joining several actors in making "memorable moments"[80] and cited byRoger Friedman of joining other featured actors in creating "lovely cameos".[81] In March 2007, Herrmann had a supporting role inI Think I Love My Wife.[82][83] Kirk Honeycutt lamented Herrmann, along with costarsChris Rock andSteve Buscemi, as character actors "wasted on such lightweight roles."[84]
In 2011, Herrmann appeared inBucky Larson: Born to Be a Star, playing Jeremiah Larson, a father whose son Bucky Larson (Nick Swardson) discovers his previous career.[85][86] Robert Abele assessed Herrmann and costarMiriam Flynn as giving "aw-shucks performances".[87] In 2012, Herrmann appeared inTreasure Buddies, portraying Philip Wellington, the film's antagonist.[88] Herrmann took on the role due to the character being an English villain, allowing him to portray an antagonist with an accent, as well as being able to work with animals and make a film for children.[89] The following year, Herrmann had a small role as Dr. Vincent inAre You Here.[90][91] Herrmann's final appearance in a film wasThe Town That Dreaded Sundown, released in October 2014.[92] Gary Collinson wrote that Herrmann andVeronica Cartwright both offered "solid support, although they are a little underused".[93]
Herrmann was known for his voluminous voice work for theHistory Channel and various PBS specials, including hosting a revival ofFrank Capra'sWhy We Fight,[94] and made appearances and did voiceovers inDodge commercials from 1992 to 2001, andRayovac batteries in the same timeframe. His voice work includes dozens ofaudiobooks, for which he won severalAudie Awards. He played Casper Gutman inBlackstone Audio'sGrammy nominated dramatization ofThe Maltese Falcon and played Peter Cauchon in Blackstone's audio version ofBernard Shaw'sSaint Joan.[citation needed] Herrmann provided the narration for the 2010 non-fiction bookUnbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption byLaura Hillenbrand, Josh Schwartz praising Herrmann as doing "a great job",[95] and Susan Rife assessing his narration as "urgent".[96]
After his well-received portrayal of J. Alden Weir in the playMy Dearest Anna at the Wilton Playshop inWilton, Connecticut, he was a special guest of theMormon Tabernacle Choir andOrchestra at Temple Square in their Ring Christmas Bells holiday concert inSalt Lake City, Utah, December 11–14, 2008.[97] He reprised his role of Franklin Roosevelt in 2014, providing the voice of F.D.R. inKen Burns' PBS series,The Roosevelts: An Intimate History.[98] Herrmann received praise,Neil Genzlinger noting him as among the "top-drawer talent" of the voiceover cast.[99]
His final work was as narrator for another Burns documentary,Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, which aired in March 2015, three months after Herrmann's death.[100] Director Barak Goodman recalled Herrmann collapsing during the first day of his work on the project and explaining his illness of terminal brain cancer to the production crew of the documentary, Goodman furthering that by this point it was clear to Herrmann that he was not going to live despite receiving new forms of treatment: "He was confident he could do this, and felt it [was appropriate to] be his final project."[101] Mary McNamara wrote that Herrmann delivered "a final performance, equal in breathtaking courage and beauty, that embodies precisely what allows Goodman to explore the staggering numbers and many defeats without ever falling to its knees as defeatist."[102]
Herrmann came from a prominentUnitarian family, based inGrosse Pointe, Michigan. He became aCatholic as an adult, creating a private chapel adorned withicons and reading each day fromThomas à Kempis'sThe Imitation of Christ.[103]
Herrmann was married twice and had two daughters. In 1978, he married his longtime girlfriend, screenwriter Leigh Curran. The marriage ended in 1992. Prior to his second marriage, Herrmann's future second wife, Star (Hayner) Roman, filed a paternity suit against him after he fathered a child with her while filmingHarry's War (1981). Roman and Herrmann eventually married, and the union lasted from 1994 until his death in 2014.[104] Herrmann had one stepson, Star Roman's son from a previous relationship[105] who, as an adult, changed his last name from Roman to Herrmann in honor of his stepfather.[106]
Herrmann was a well-known automotive enthusiast and restored classic automobiles.[107] He was a regularmaster of ceremonies for the annualPebble Beach Concours d'Elegance[107] and hosted the television showAutomobiles on The History Channel.[1][108] He owned and restored several classics of his own, including a 1929Auburn 8-90 Boattail Speedster and a 1934Alvis Speed 20.[107]
In December 2014, it was reported that Edward and Star Herrmann had filed a lawsuit against their accountants seeking $14.5 million that they alleged had been misappropriated. The suit was later dismissed.[109][110]
On December 31, 2014, Herrmann died frombrain cancer atMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, at the age of 71.[111] The estate of Edward Herrmann has licensed his synthesized voice for audiobook narration through DeepZen.io from which the estate is granted royalties.[112]
Mr. Herrmann joined the production because he is tired ofbeing cast in parts where I'm wearing suits, he said, and becauseCassius is a big angry part full of intelligence, passion and feeling. He has long wanted to do the rolebecause in my mind Cassius has always been the one to play - the most complex and interesting one.
Not every actor resembles his real-life counterpart as well as Herrmann, but Bogdanovich's people are so alive with personality and dimension it doesn't matter.
The actors providing the voices include top-drawer talent like Meryl Streep, Edward Herrmann and Paul Giamatti (with the reliable Peter Coyote doing the main narration).
