The End of an Era: Edward Herrmann’s Cause of Death Revealed

Edward Herrmann, an Emmy winner best known for his work on 'Gilmore Girls,' passed away at the age of 71, his manager confirmed to 'The Hollywood Reporter'.

Herrmann died on December 31, 2014, in a New York hospital after battling brain cancer. He had been in intensive care for the past three and a half weeks, his family told 'TMZ'.

He played "Nelson Rockefeller" in the 1995 film 'Nixon.' Early in his career, he was best known for playing "Franklin Delano Roosevelt" in two TV movies in the 1970s: 'Eleanor and Franklin' and 'Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years.' He also played "Roosevelt" in the 1982 musical 'Annie' and voiced him in the Ken Burns documentary 'The Roosevelts: An Intimate History.'

Herrmann also played Macaulay Culkin's father in 'Richie Rich' (1994) and the villainous Max in 'The Lost Boys' (1987). He appeared in six episodes of CBS’s 'The Good Wife' as lawyer "Lionel Deerfield".

The actor played "Richard Gilmore", the family patriarch, for seven seasons on 'Gilmore Girls' from 2000 to 2007. In 1999, he won an Emmy for his guest role on 'The Practice,' where he portrayed Lindsay’s (Kelli Williams) favorite law professor who defended a tobacco company.

Mr. Herrmann had a prolific career, showcasing his passion for acting and reliable talent. He was one of those actors, appearing in over 100 movies and TV shows. He had recurring roles in series like 'St. Elsewhere,' 'Oz,' 'Grey’s Anatomy,' and 'Harry’s Law'.

He also recorded dozens of audiobooks, including 'Atlas Shrugged' by Ayn Rand, Laura Hillenbrand’s best-seller 'Unbroken,' David McCullough’s biography of John Adams, Walter Isaacson’s 'Einstein: His Life and Universe,' and Roger Ebert’s memoir 'Life Itself.'

His voice—smooth, clear, and engaging—was everywhere. He narrated numerous History Channel documentaries, the PBS mini-series 'Liberty! The American Revolution' (1997), and Dodge commercials in the 1990s.

He was married twice and is survived by his three children.