I’m sorry to report the death of beloved character, Michael Lerner. He was 81.
Michael was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1992 in the Coen Brothers’ “Barton Fink.” He was perfectly cast and actually deserved to win. He was already on a roll, appearing in movies and TV, but after that his work ramped up considerably.
Because of his hefty visage, he was often cast as mobsters, lawyers, or heads of studios from the old days. In 2016 he starred in a film directed by Justin Chambers of “Grey’s Anatomy,” called “American Bred.” Around that time he had a recurring role in “Glee.”
In the decades before that his resume is endless, he was a very popular presence on the big and small screens. I had the pleasure of talking to Michael a few times over the years. He was great friends with actress Diane Baker, they used to come to the annual BAFTA tea, and he was a lot of fun.
Michael’s nephew, Sam Lerner, posted the notice on Instagram. May his memory be a blessing.
