Sad news this morning, as Law & Order actor and former senator Fred Thompson has passed away at the age of 73. He passed away on Sunday in Nashville, according to a statement released by his family. The cause of death is said to be a recurrence of lymphoma, which he’d been battling for several years.
The New York Times published a touching obituary, which included a statement from Al Gore, whose Tennessee senate seat Thompson filled in 1994.
“At a moment of history’s choosing, Fred’s extraordinary integrity while working with Senator Howard Baker on the Watergate Committee helped our nation find its way,” Mr. Gore said. “I was deeply inspired by his matter-of-fact, no-nonsense moral courage in that crucible. Tennessee and our nation owe a great debt to Fred Thompson.”
Whether or not you were a fan of his conservative political agenda and ideals, he was a talented actor and public figure that was beloved by many. I remember his Law & Order days fondly, for sure.
His family’s statement continued:
Growing up in a small town in Tennessee “formed the prism through which he viewed the world and shaped the way he dealt with life” and reinforced for him the values of hard work and a belief in American exceptionalism.
“Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of Lawrenceburg,” his family said.
Rest in peace, Fred Thompson.
RIP, back in 2008 a lot of powerful Republicans thought he’d be a good president and begged him to run. Eventually he did enter the race but it seemed like he didn’t want to be and his run went nowhere. Acting is a lot more fun than politics.