RIP Ron Silver
By Mitch Berg
Ron Silver has passed away at 62.
Silver was a capable actor who became, arguably, more famous for bucking Hollywood’s dominant liberalism after 9/11, fighting a war of conscience that consumed his acting career but brought him new appreciation from a different breed of fans.
Little did anyone know until very recently that, as Roger L. Simon notes, that battle was just a piker. Silver has had stomach cancer for several years:
Somewhere around a year ago we were having breakfast in New York. He wasn’t looking good, hair thin from chemo, sallow complexion, etc. His energy, however, as always, was spectacularly high and he was filled with plans for his new Sirius radio show. But something was wrong. It wasn’t just the cancer, but it was related to the cancer. Ron was, above all things, an actor, a fantastic actor. And the cancer made him unable to do that work. He told me he had just been offered the lead in Coriolanus at the Long Wharf, but didn’t think he could do it. He would be too tired with his illnes to play a Shakespeare lead. His artistic work was all over for him. It was the one time in all the recent years I saw him on the edge of tears.
I’m starting to cry myself as I type this, so I’m going to shut up. What a great man.
Simon’ll be back with more.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I’ll always remember Ron Silver for his comments at Clinton’s first inauguration in 1993. Silver was kvetching over some Air Force jets flying over head: “But then it came to me, hey, those planes are ours now. Those are our planes.”
March 16th, 2009 at 10:28 am
But, after 9-11 things changed for Silver.
At the 2004 RNC he gave a speech with the following
“Under the unwavering leadership of President Bush, the cause of freedom
and democracy is being advanced by the courageous men and women serving in our Armed Services.
The President is doing exactly the right thing.
That is why we need this President at this time!
I am grateful for the chance to speak tonight to express my support for
our Commander-in-Chief, for our brave troops, and for the vital cause which they have undertaken.”
March 17th, 2009 at 9:27 am
RIP Mr. Silver.
While pausing for a moment of respect for the recently deceased, may I commend to your attention another remarkable American who has recently died, Leonore Annenberg. Among her many accomplishments was serving as Reagan’s Chief of Diplomatic Protocol.
The current administration could use someone with her taste and expertise in that job to select gifts for visiting dignitaries….