Edward Herrmann facts for kids

Edward Kirk Herrmann (born July 21, 1943 – died December 31, 2014) was an American actor, director, and writer. He was well-known for playing important historical figures and beloved TV characters.

Many people remember him as Franklin D. Roosevelt in the TV mini-series Eleanor and Franklin (1976) and the movie musical Annie (1982). He also played Richard Gilmore in the popular TV show Gilmore Girls (2000–2007). You might also recognize his voice from many historical shows on The History Channel and PBS programs like Nova. In the 1990s, he was also the voice for Dodge car commercials.

Edward Herrmann started his acting career in theater on Broadway in 1972. He won a Tony Award for his role in Mrs. Warren's Profession in 1976. He was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards and won one for his performance in The Practice in 1999. He also appeared in many movies, including Reds (1981), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Overboard (1987), and The Aviator (2004).

Early life

Edward Kirk Herrmann was born on July 21, 1943, in Washington, D.C. His parents were Jean Eleanor and John Anthony Herrmann. He had German and Irish family roots. Edward grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He graduated from Bucknell University in 1965. After that, he studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in England. He received a special scholarship called a Fulbright Fellowship to help him study there.

Career

Theater

Herrmann began his acting journey in theater. One of his first professional plays was Moonchildren in Washington, D.C., in 1971. He then moved with the show to New York City, making his Broadway debut the next year.

In 1976, Herrmann returned to Broadway for the play Mrs. Warren's Profession. His performance earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, which is a very important award for theater actors.

He also directed a play called Not About Heroes in 1985. In 1988, he acted in a New York production of Julius Caesar. He played the character of Gaius Cassius Longinus. From 1988 to 1989, Herrmann starred with Alec Guinness in a play called A Walk in the Woods in London. This play was about a meeting between a Soviet diplomat and an American negotiator.

Television

1970s and 1980s

Herrmann was widely recognized for playing Franklin D. Roosevelt, a former U.S. President. He played him in the TV movies Eleanor and Franklin (1976) and Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977). These roles earned him nominations for Emmy Awards. He also played Roosevelt in the movie Annie (1982).

Herrmann felt that playing Roosevelt was a "gift" because the script, cast, and director were all excellent. Many people who grew up watching TV and movies thought Edward Herrmann truly captured the spirit of FDR.

In 1980, Herrmann appeared in an episode of M*A*S*H. He also played Max in the 1987 movie The Lost Boys. He received Emmy nominations in 1986 and 1987 for his guest appearances on the show St. Elsewhere. In 1984, he played Alger Hiss in a PBS show called Concealed Enemies.

1990s

In 1994, Herrmann was in the TV film Don't Drink the Water. He also played Herman Munster in the TV movie Here Come the Munsters in 1995. He thought the script was "silly and funny." He saw the Munsters as a family of refugees, which reminded him of American family values.

Herrmann won an Emmy Award in 1999 for his guest roles on the TV show The Practice. In the same year, he played President Fellwick in the TV mini-series Atomic Train.

2000s and 2010s

From 2000 to 2007, Edward Herrmann played Richard Gilmore on The WB's popular show Gilmore Girls. The show's creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, said he was their first choice for the role. His co-star, Kelly Bishop, who played his wife, said they became good friends because they were both New York actors and had similar interests. Alexis Bledel, who played his granddaughter, remembered how much he knew about theater and film. Herrmann enjoyed the relationship between his character and Bledel's character.

In October 2013, Herrmann appeared in an episode of How I Met Your Mother.

After Edward Herrmann passed away, his character Richard Gilmore's death was written into the 2016 revival of Gilmore Girls, called Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. His co-stars felt that his death added a new depth to the show and was a wonderful tribute to him.

Film

Herrmann's film career started in the mid-1970s. He played supporting roles in movies like The Great Waldo Pepper, The Paper Chase, and The Great Gatsby. He also played President Roosevelt again in the movie Annie.

In 1979, Herrmann played a high school English teacher who became a wrestling coach in the movie Take Down. Some of his other well-known roles include the main character in Harry's War (1981). He was also the husband of Goldie Hawn's character in Overboard. He played Reverend Michael Hill in Disney's The North Avenue Irregulars. He was also the mild-mannered head vampire Max in The Lost Boys.

In 1993, Herrmann appeared in Born Yesterday. He was praised for his performance. He also played Nelson Rockefeller in the 1995 film Nixon. In 1998, he played a priest who became a family counselor in the film Better Living.

Herrmann had a supporting role as William Randolph Hearst in the 2001 film The Cat's Meow. He also had a small role in the 2004 film The Aviator. In 2007, he was in I Think I Love My Wife.

In 2011, Herrmann appeared in Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star. In 2012, he played the bad guy in Treasure Buddies, a movie for children. He liked this role because he could play a villain with an English accent and work with animals. His last film appearance was in The Town That Dreaded Sundown, released in October 2014.

Voice work

Edward Herrmann was famous for his voice work. He narrated many shows for The History Channel and various PBS specials. He also did voiceovers for Dodge car commercials from 1992 to 2001. He narrated many audiobooks and won several awards for them.

He provided the narration for the 2010 non-fiction book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. People praised his narration for being urgent and well-done.

In 2014, he voiced Franklin D. Roosevelt again for Ken Burns' PBS series, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. His final voice work was narrating another Ken Burns documentary called Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies. This aired three months after Herrmann's death. The director recalled Herrmann collapsing during the first day of work and explaining his illness.

Personal life

Edward Herrmann came from a well-known family in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He later became a Roman Catholic.

Family

Herrmann was married twice and had two daughters, Ryen and Emma. In 1978, he married Leigh Curran. They later divorced in 1992. He then married Star Roman in 1994, and they remained married until his death in 2014. Edward also had a stepson named Rory, who later changed his last name to Herrmann to honor his stepfather.

Automobiles

Herrmann loved cars and enjoyed restoring classic automobiles. He often hosted the annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, which is a famous car show. He also hosted a TV show about cars on The History Channel. He owned and restored several classic cars himself, including a 1929 Auburn and a 1934 Alvis Speed 20.

Death

Edward Herrmann passed away on December 31, 2014, from brain cancer. He was 71 years old. He died at a hospital in New York City.

Acting credits

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Edward Herrmann para niños