Ben Gazzara, a popular character actor, passed away Friday at the age of 81. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, his lawyer told The New York Times.
His powerful dramatic performances brought an intensity to a variety of roles and made him a memorable presence in iconic productions over the years.
From the original Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway to the movie The Big Lebowski and countless others, he made an impact on stage, screen and film.
Accomplished as an actor, and known as dapper and irresistible to women, Gazzara (also known for Roadhouse) came by his many streetwise roles naturally.
He began his career on Broadway productions, later moving to California to appear in movies, including Anatomy of a Murder and The Young Doctors.
He also played his most famous role on TV, as a doomed attorney on NBC’s answer to ABC’s The Fugitive. Called Run for Your Life, it ran from 1965-68.
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