Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Legendary Actor Rip Torn Dead at 88, Emmy Winner for “Larry Sanders Show,” Oscar Nominee, Tony Nominated, Once Married to Geraldine Page

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Rip Torn– contentious, brilliant, mercurial, genius– actor is dead at age 88.

He was best known for playing Garry Shandling’s sidekick on “The Larry Sanders Show.” But he appeared on Broadway ten times and was nominated for a Tony in 1960.

Torn was nominated for an Oscar in 1984 for Best Supporting Actor in “Cross Creek.”

Originally a stage actor known for drama, Torn later blossomed as a comedic actor who take bombast to new levels.

He was married three times: to the late great Ann Wedgworth, to the late Oscar winner Geraldine Page, and to his widow, actress Amy Wright. He had children with all of them including two with Page who became actors: Tony Torn and Angelica Torn.

Torn had nine Emmy nominations and one win, in 1997, for “Larry Sanders.” He appeared in 89 episodes of that show and became a fan favorite.

He burst onto the scene in the early 60s starring in three different plays by Tennessee Williams. Torn was a regular on TV starting in the late 50s, and never stopped working. One memorable role was that of Don Geiss, Alec Baldwin’s mentor, on “30 Rock.”

Rip Torn will be remembered for being an iconoclast. He never conformed, and went his own way. That’s why whenever you see him in a film or TV show, he leaves an indelible mark. Condolences to his family.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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