Ron Liebman obit

Veteran actor Ron Leibman dies aged 82

He was not on the list.

Award-winning actor Ron Leibman has died at the age of 82.


It has been reported by his agent Leibman died from pneumonia.


The veteran star had a varied but decorated sixty year career in film and television, winning an Emmy award in 1979 for the series Kaz, and a Tony award for Tony Kushner's play Angels in America.

But he is perhaps best known by for his role as the overbearing Dr. Leonard Green in sitcom Friends.

The role saw him play a domineering father who hates daughter Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) boyfriend Ross (David Schwimmer).

He has been married to fellow actress Jessica Walter, best known as Arrested Development matriarch Lucille Bluth, since 1983.

A statement from his agent read: "Ron was an incredibly talented actor with a distinguished career in film, TV and theatre. Our thoughts go out to his wife, Jessica (Walter), and his family.”

Other recent roles include featuring in cult animated spy comedy Archer. He played Ron Cadillac, the husband of Malory Archer, who was voiced by actual wife Walter.

He also had recurring TV roles in iconic shows such as The Sopranos and Murder She Wrote.

His famous movies included Norma Rae and Slaughterhouse-Five.

Norma Rae co-star Sally Field has taken to social media to pay tribute to the actor.

She wrote: "So many of the best memories of my career have Ron Leibman in them. Thank you, Ron. For my being my champion. Rest, my friend.”

Actor and presenter “John Barrowman wrote: Ron Leibman #RIP played my father in an Aaron Spelling tv show called Central Park West. Very funny man and a wicked sense of humor.”



Filmography





Film

Year Title Role Notes

1970 Where's Poppa? Sidney Hocheiser Film debut

1972 The Hot Rock Murch

1972 Slaughterhouse-Five Paul Lazzaro

1973 Your Three Minutes Are Up Mike

1974 The Super Cops David Greenberg

1976 Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood Rudy Montague

1979 Norma Rae Reuben 

1980 Up the Academy Major Vaughn Liceman Uncredited

Nominated – The Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Supporting Actor

1981 Zorro: The Gay Blade Esteban The Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Supporting Actor

The Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst On-Screen Couple (shared with Brenda Vaccaro)

1983 Phar Lap Dave Davis

1983 Romantic Comedy Leo

1984 Door to Door Larry Price

1984 Rhinestone Freddie Ugo Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor

1988 Seven Hours to Judgment David Reardon

1996 Night Falls on Manhattan Morgenstern

1999 Just the Ticket Barry the Book

2002 Personal Velocity Arvam Herskowitz Also known as Personal Velocity: Three Portraits

2002 Dummy Lou

2002 Auto Focus Lenny

2004 Garden State Dr. Cohen

2010 A Little Help Warren Dunning





Television

Year Title Role Notes

1956 The Edge of Night Johnny Television debut

1963 The DuPont Show of the Week Carmatti Episode: "Ride with Terror"

1963 Ride with Terror Carmatti Television movie

1966 Hawk Eddie Toll Episode: "The Man Who Owned Everyone"

1975 The Art of Crime Roman Grey Television movie

1975 Police Story Ray Oberstar Episode: "Vice: 24 Hours"

1977 Martinelli, Outside Man Richie Martinelli Television movie

1978 A Question of Guilt Detective Louis Kazinsky Television movie

1978–1979 Kaz Martin 'Kaz' Kazinsky Series regular / also writer; 23 episodes

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

1980 Linda in Wonderland Unknown Television movie

1981 Rivkin: Bounty Hunter Rivkin Television movie

1985 Comedy Story Joey Caruso Episode: "Side by Side", also writer

1986 Many Happy Returns Jerry Brenner Television movie

1986 Christmas Eve Morris Huffner Television movie

Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television

1987 ABC Afterschool Specials Sam Greene Episode: "Class Act: A Teacher's Story"

1988 Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Sam Ajami Simon Resnick Television movie

1988 Aaron's Way Unknown Episode: "The Men Will Cheer and the Boys Will Shout"

1990–1992 Murder, She Wrote Darryl Heyward / Roland Trent 2 episodes

1991–1992 Pacific Station Detective Al Burkhardt Series regular; 13 episodes

1992 Fish Police Voice, Episode: "The Codfather"

1995 Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man Geofredo Episode: "Papa Oom M.O.W. M.O.W.

1995–1996 Central Park West Allen Rush Voice, Series regular; 21 episodes

1995–2000 Law & Order Barry Nathanson / Mark Paul Kopell 2 episodes

1996–2004 Friends Dr. Leonard Green Recurring role; 4 episodes [18]

1996 Rugrats Rabbi / Old Man Voice, Episode: "Chanukah"

1997 Don King: Only in America Harry Shondor Television movie

1998–2002 Holding the Baby Stan Peterson Series regular; 13 episodes

2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Stan Villani Recurring role; 4 episodes

2003 The Practice Attorney Robert Colby Episode: "Concealing Evidence"

2006 The Sopranos Dr. Lior Plepler Recurring role; 3 episodes

2013–2016 Archer Ron Cadillac Voice, Recurring role; 9 episodes





Stage

Year Title Role Notes

1959 Camino Real Kilroy

1959 Legend of Lovers Orpheus

1959 A View From the Bridge Rudolfo

1960 Dead End Unknown

1960 The Premise Unknown

1963 Dear Me, The Sky is Falling Peter Nemo

1963 Bicycle Ride to Nevada Rip Calabria

1964 The Deputy Captain Slazer 316 performances

1965 The Misanthrope Alceste

1965 Uncle Vanya Astrov

1965 End Game Clov

1965 The Critic Mr. Puff

1965 Galileo Unknown

1966–1967 Room Service Gordon Miller

1967 The Poker Session Teddy

1967–1968 Prometheus Bound Hermes

1967–1968 Volpone Mosca

1967–1968 The Three Sisters Solyony

1968 We Bombed in New Haven Sergeant Henderson 85 performances

1968 Long Day's Journey into Night Unknown

1969 Cop-Out Performer

1970 Room Service Gordon Miller

1970 Transfers Performer

1975 Love Two Performer

1976 Rich and Famous Various Roles

1976 Julius Caesar Unknown

1977 Richard III Richard III

1980–1981 I Ought to Be in Pictures Herb 324 performances

1982 Children of Darkness Count LaRuse

1983 Don Pasquale Don Pasquale

1985 Doubles Lennie 277 performances

1986 Tartuffe Tartuffe

1988–1990 Rumors Lenny Ganz 535 performances

1993 Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Roy Cohn Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play

Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play

1994 Angels in America: Perestroika Nominated – Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

1995 The Merchant of Venice Shylock Nominated – Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play

1998 A Dybbuk, or Between Two Worlds Rabbi Azriel Nominated – Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

1999–2000 Adam Baum Sam Baum

2001 A Connecticut Yankee Launcelot

2002 God of Vengeance Jack Chapman