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He battled esophageal cancer for two years and died today at age 62. Silver had a long career on stage, screen and film, winning Tony and Emmy awards, the latter as a slick campaign strategist on The West Wing. His TV credits included recurring roles on Chicago Hope and Veronica’s Closet, and his films included Ali, Reversal of Fortune, Silkwood and Semi-Tough. A co-founder of the non-partisan Creative Coalition, Silver stunned Hollywood when he abandoned his lifelong Democratic activism to support the Bush administration’s post-9/11 policies and wars. He then spoke at the 2004 Republican presidential convention in support of George W Bush. He also narrated 2004′s Fahrenhype 9/11, which tried to disprove Michael Moore’s documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Silver accused liberal Hollywood of punishing him for his political about-face by withholding acting roles; whether true or not, the fact is Silver wasn’t working as much in recent years.
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He was great in Silkwood.
Wondering if he was a smoker. Probably was.
The only thing that was strange was his bottle-brown long hair bit. What was up with that??
Hey, Ella — thanks for taking the opportunity to attack the guy instead of just mourning him. (he “abdicated” his rationality? Just because you don’t agree with his position, he’s irrational?). It’s statements like yours that add fuel to the “looney left” stereotype.
You’re a real piece of work.
Ron Silver was a terrific actor, and it’s a shame that Hollywood punished him for his late in life conversion to conservatism by not boycotting him. Typical Hollywood leftist nonsense.
Wjam – drink your kool-aid.
RIP, Ron Siliver. I thought he was a very good actor and quite courageous for standing up for what he believed in. I thought he was underrated in Time Cop and did a superb job on the West Wing.
A superbly gifted actor. He was even goo in bad movies. Think Blue Steel.
He and Dennis Mller had an awakening after the destruction on 9/11.
God bless his soul!
Ron Silver was one of a very few “power” actors. He was almost too real to watch. His work on The West Wing showcased this great talent.
Rest now.
“goodnight, bruno gianelli. thanks for getting jed elected.”
My sentiments exactly.
Farewell, RIP.
Ron, rest now, you class act.
A very, very talented actor. @JD, he claims he was punished for his political views, but I don’t remember him having a particularly vibrant career after 1992 or so, which made his claims of persecution sound more like excuses.
No, WJAM, no. What this story does is explain that his slow-down in work wasn’t by the design of your fictitious shibboleth construct, “Hollyweird”. It was because he was ill and made the choice to keep it quiet. That was his choice and I respect him for that. Unlike you, who sees this as an opportunity to grind an axe.
So r.i.p. Ron. I’ll add your work in “The Entity” as well to remember. And off to that gentle sleep goes another celebrity actor. You know, the type of working American that the right always says should “shut the hell up” when it comes to politics.
Hey David,
Ron Silver did abdicate his rationality. He was aware of it before he died as he voted for Obama.
Sorry if you think voting for a police state over finding the real human cause behind 9/11 seems a rational thought to you. Remember this: Terrorists are people forced to use force whentheir plight doesn’t get justice. Remember the revolutionary war? Who were those terrorists hell bent on destroying their masters? (The British) By golly it was our “Forefathers” the colonists you fool. Fix the problem before it starts. hunkering down in bunker of fear is old school, conservative BS that keeps this country in a fear state. You still have time to change YOUR ways before you die too.
Anonymous, thanks for your insight into the deranged leftwing mind, where terrorists are after “justice”, and American’s forefathers are compared to Islamic fanatics.
You also believe you live in a “police state”. Good thing you’re not “hunkered down” in a “bunker of fear”, you braindead, irony-deficient moron.
I loved him as the heavy in HEAT VISION AND JACK….
RIP
Anonymous, the last time I checked, a “police state’s” elements include private citizens openly targeted by the government (Limbaugh), the media co-opted for propaganda purposes (just about any network, blog, website or newspaper you pick up today), and money taken illegally from citizens with no representation to fund and expand government control over every single aspect of their lives, with the smallest dissension either ignored…or prosecuted.
Sounds familiar today, doesn’t it?
It’s a real shame — and an even bigger one that he pulled a Dennis Miller after 9/11, thus repudiating all the good he did throughout his life beforehand.
A truly tragic example. I feel for his family and friends.
I thought he was terrific in Enemies: A Love Story.
It sounds like he was in a lot of pain, the lst few years, in more ways than one.
I produced a movie with Ron about 10 years or so ago and he was a real pro. Smart as a whip. A bit of a handful at times, but well worth it. And of course a fine actor.
But I have to wonder, if “liberal Hollywood” really blacklisted him, how did he get the WEST WING gig? That show was as liberal as it gets.
On the other hand, it is very possible that a producer or director might’ve been turned off by his conservative politics.
In any case, RIP Ron…
Dear David,
Only a person who sees Politics as a weapon of retribution would see Limbaugh as some sort of “Victim” of the left.
The facts are Limbaugh is a buffoon who is tearing your once powerful party asunder (Not Obama) Limbaugh does it gleefully for his own gain and because Republicans don’t have an answer (other than voting no to everything) they choose to want to shoot down the Democratic mandate which was voted in by a size able majority of the the American voting public.
Being on SS Limbaugh is not the ship you want to be on right now. It’s gonna sink the Trepublican party.
lastly,
Don’t you remember anything about the last 8 years under Bush? Obama is trying to undo all the restrictions Bush placed upon our freedoms and fought off with constitutional lawyers who tried (for now) to curtail freedoms of everyday Americans like you and me.
And you think Obama is out to curtail your freedoms???
PLEASE!!! You either have terrible amnesia or you are extremely partisan from the get-go.
Fess up to either charge.
Comments like that give more credence to quote unquote “left wing deranged minds” like me.
My point is Ron Silver realised his view of the world changed after 9/11 and he had the courage of conviction to change his mind again
I suppose there is something wrong with that too?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/movies/16silver.html?hp
I created an online memorial for Ron. Please visit and leave a message, light a candle, etc. Thanks.
http://www.ilasting.com/ronsilver.php
Anonymous youd better get back to the slurpee machine, its empty…
I acted in a film with Ron and found him to be a deeply compassionate and giving actor who always loved a good raunchy joke. We often traded East Indian and other dialects and laughed often. I will miss his humor and intellectual intensity. He joins a great repertory company up there! Bye, Ron, you are missed.
I liked Ron’s work when he was a Liberal, and I was not. Once he shifted to a more conservative viewpoint I no longer was able to enjoy his talents near as much.
Interesting that Hollywood could not be accepting to his change of heart. While Rightists have to put aside bias in order to enjoy most films the Town could not be as open-minded with Ron Silver, exhibiting an intolerance that is often attributed to the likes of myself. I’d call it ironic if there was not so much tragedy attached to the story. Ron’s gift will be missed.