Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Louise Randell

Friends star Ron Leibman dies at 82 after pneumonia battle

Friends star Ron Leibman has died aged 82 after a battle with pneumonia.

The actor is best remembered for playing Rachel Green's bad-tempered dad in the hit sitcom.

His passing was confirmed his agent at Abrams Artists Agency.

They said in a statement to The Wrap: "We at Abrams Artists Agency are saddened to hear the news of Ron’s passing.

"Ron was an incredibly talented actor with a distinguished career in film, TV and theatre. Our thoughts go out to his wife, Jessica, and his family."

Leibman is survived by his wife of 36 years, actress Jessica Walter.

Ron Leibman has died aged 82 after a battle with pneumonia (FilmMagic)
He played grouchy Dr Green in Friends (COMEDY CENTRAL)

Friends fans will remember him as gruff Dr Green in the hit show, a role he played from 1996 until 2004.

Aside from Friends, he enjoyed a successful acting career from the 1950s, but didn't shoot to mainstream fame until he landed a role in in telly crime drama Kaz in 1978.

He won an Emmy for his part in the show, which ran for two years,

Leibman also appeared in Law & Order, Murder, She Wrote and The Sopranos in 2006.

He was a regular part of the show for years (COMEDY CENTRAL)

His movie career included appearances in films such as he Hot Rock (1972), Norma Rae (1979), Night Falls On Manhattan (1996) and Garden State (2004).

Leibman also had a successful career on stage, winning a Toony Award in 1993 for his role in acclaimed stage show Angels in America.

He appeared alongside his wife Jessica in a production of Tartuffle in Los Angeles in 1986, and Rumours on Broadway in 1988.

They also played husband and wife in 2003 film Dummy and in hit animated show Archer.

He was previously married to actress Linda Lavin from 1969 until 1981.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.