David Margulies obit

Ghostbusters star David Margulies dies aged 78

He was not on the list.

David Margulies, who was best known for playing the Mayor of New York in Ghostbusters, has died at the age of 78. The actor passed away in Manhattan, New York on Monday 11 January.

His agent Mary Harden confirmed the sad news to Deadline, while his sister Vicki revealed that the late star battled with cancer.

David is survived by his long-term partner, American actress Lois Smith, his son Jonathan and a grandson.

In Ghostbusters, the Brooklyn-born star played politician Lenny Clotch, who was inspired by real life Mayor Ed Koch. David also appeared in the sequel Ghostbusters II in 1989.

Apart from starring in the fantasy adventure blockbuster, David also had a score of film credits attached to his name. He was cast in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, A Stranger Among Us and Out on a Limb following his Ghostbusters debut.

Fans will also recognise the late star for his role in The Sopranos; he played mob boss Tony Soprano's lawyer Neil Mink in eight episodes. On the small screen, David also featured in Law & Order, NYPD Blue and Northern Exposure.

At the age of 21, David made his stage debut, starring in the off-Broadway production Golden 6. His first Broadway production came years later when a thirty-something David was cast in a revival of The Iceman Cometh.

His other Broadway appearances included Wonderful Town, Brighton Beach Memoirs and 45 Seconds from Broadway.

Filmography

    Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers (1972) as Walter Mitty

    The Front (1976) as Phelps

    Last Embrace (1979) as Rabbi Josh Drexel

    All That Jazz (1979) as Larry Goldie

    Night-Flowers (1979) as Psychiatrist

    Hide in Plain Sight (1980) as Detective Reilly

    Dressed to Kill (1980) as Dr. Levy

    Times Square (1980) as Dr. Zymansky

    I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982) as Walter Kress

    Daniel (1983) as Dr. Duberstein

    Ghostbusters (1984) as Mayor Lenny Clotch

    9½ Weeks (1986) as Harvey

    Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986) as Mr. Farber

    Candy Mountain (1987) as Lawyer

    Ishtar (1987) as Mr. Clarke

    Magic Sticks (1987) as Goldfarb

    Running on Empty (1988) as Dr. Jonah Reiff

    Ghostbusters II (1989) as Lenny Clotch, the mayor of New York City

    Funny About Love (1990) as Dr. Benjamin

    A Stranger Among Us (1992) as Lt. Oliver

    Out on a Limb (1992) as Mr. Buchenwald

    Day of Atonement (1992) (English version, voice)

    Family Prayers (1993) as Uncle Sam

    Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) as Doctor

    Hudson River Blues (1997) as Stan

    Lifebreath (1997) as Abe Gross

    Celebrity (1998) as Counselor Adelman

    Man of the Century (1999) as Mr. Meyerscholtz

    Looking for an Echo (2000) as Dr. Ludwig

    Bought & Sold (2003) as Kutty Nazarian

    Invitation to a Suicide (2004) as Roman Malek

    Whiskey School (2005) as Rex Michaels

    Ira & Abby (2006) as Dr. Arnold Friedman

    Noise (2007) as Heart Attack Man

    All Good Things (2010) as Mayor

    Roadie (2011) as Don Muller

    The Girl on the Train (2013) as Morris Herzman

    Fading Gigolo (2013) as Chief Rebbe

    A Most Violent Year (2014) as Saul Lefkowitz

    License Plates (2016) as Jacob

    Adam Bloom (2016) as Harris Sutton (final film role)

    Curmudgeons (2016) (short film) as Ralph