George Segal, a long-term leading man in movies who can be presently seen as the lovable grandfather on ABC’s “The Goldbergs,” died Tuesday. He was 87.
Segal’s wife, Sonia Segal, issued an statement announcing her husband’s death via Sony Pictures Television, which produces “The Goldbergs.”
“The family is devastated to announce that this morning George Segal passed away due to complications from bypass surgery,” Sonia Segal said. The statement didn’t say when the surger occurred or offer some other details.
Segal, conceived Feb. 13, 1934 in Great Neck, Long Island, New York. He got an Academy Award assignment for best supporting entertainer for his depiction of Nick in 1966’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” the film variation of a play headlined by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
Segal’s “Goldbergs” colleagues, recognized as the show’s “family” in a proclamation sent by Sony, offered their notions in regards to “the loss of our dear friend, George,” who additionally broadly engaged late-night TV crowds with his master banjo-playing abilities.
“He was kind, sweet, beyond talented and funny. George was the true epitome of class and he touched all of our lives so deeply. It was an honor and a privilege to have him as a colleague and friend all of these years,” the statement said. “He will be missed by all. Pops, we will miss your banjo playing and your infectious laugh. Rest in peace.”
Sony gave its sympathies, recalling Segal as a “true icon” who “brightened the screen whenever he was on camera” and ABC Entertainment said the actor’s “talent has left an indelible mark and we’re grateful for the laughter and joy he has given us all.”
Segal’s friend and manager, Abe Hoch, likewise gave an statement mourning Segal’s passing.
“I am saddened by the fact that my close friend and client of many years has passed away. I will miss his warmth, humor, camaraderie and friendship. He was a wonderful human,” Hoch said.
He got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.
The actor, who rose to film fame during the 1960s and was A-rundown star during the 1970s, prevailed upon another age of fans lately as Albert “Pops” Solomon, the wise and wryly funny grandfather of Adam, Barry and Erica on “The Goldbergs.” He shot a few episodes that stay to be communicated.
“The Goldbergs” maker Adam F. Goldberg, who put together the arrangement with respect to his own family, regarded Segal through Twitter.
“Today we lost a legend. It was a true honor being a small part of George Segal’s amazing legacy. By pure fate, I ended up casting the perfect person to play Pops. Just like my grandfather, George was a kid at heart with a magical spark. I think these memories say it all…” he wrote in a tweet accompanied by photos of Segal.
“The Goldbergs” covered a long, successful acting career for Segal. In the wake of moving on from Columbia University and serving in the U.S. Armed force, he contemplated acting with Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen, acquiring a traction on the New York stage.
After a progression of TV guest starring appearances, Segal got through on the big-screen in Stanley Kramer’s “Ship of Fools,” a 1965 best picture Oscar candidate that included Vivien Leigh, José Ferrer and Lee Marvin. He circled back to 1965’s “King Rat,” 1966’s “The Quiller Memorandum” and 1967’s “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” He further polished his resume with TV variations of Arthur Miller’s “Demise of a Salesman” (1966) and John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” (1967).
After a spate of featuring parts during the 1960s, he solidly settled himself as a main man in the next decade, beginning with Carl Reiner-coordinated “Where’s Poppa?” in 1970 and followed by 1972’s “The Hot Rock,” where he shared marquee space with Robert Redford, 1973’s “Blume in Love” and 1974’s “California Split,” which likewise featured Elliott Gould. He played the heartfelt lead against such Oscar-winning lights as Barbra Streisand in 1970’s “The Owl and the Pussycat,” Glenda Jackson in 1973’s “A Touch of Class” and Jane Fonda in 1977’s “Fun with Dick and Jane.”
Segal stayed a big-screen presence in supporting jobs in later movies, including 1989’s “Look Who’s Talking,” 1995’s “The Babysitter” and 1996’s “The Cable Guy,” wherein he played the dad of Matthew Broderick’s character.
Segal had a long profession in TV before “The Goldbergs,” which debuted in 2013, including a six-season run on the NBC satire “Just Shoot Me!” (1997-2003).
As the news spread Tuesday night, different entertainers offered recognition via online media.
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” star Edward Asner, a Segal contemporary, hailed “Where’s Poppa?” as “one of the biggest laughs I have ever had in a movie. He was a great actor. Too many of these types of posts lately. RIP George!”
Melissa Joan Hart, who acted with Segal and furthermore guided him, respected him on Instagram with a photograph of the pair. “Shocked and saddened to hear of #GeorgeSegal passing away! From being on set of #JustShootMe to directing him on #Goldbergs, he was a true gem and great man. He will be missed!”
Morgan Fairchild, who imparted the screen to Segal in “The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood” and “Just Shoot Me!,” called him “one of a kind and always a joy!”
Also, Michael McKean, who knows some things about comedic acting, recognized Segal and his vital vocation. “George Segal has gone now. A career that kept going for 50+ because he loved it and he was great at it. RIP,” he tweeted.
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