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Ron Silver, Tony Award Winner And Tormentor of Van Damme, Passes Away At 62...
Beaks here...
Ron Silver succumbed to esophageal cancer today at the age of sixty-two. He was a bold, ferocious talent who pursued his two loves - acting and politics - with equal fervor. When he bolted the Democratic Party in the wake of 9/11, he found himself waging rhetorical war against former friends, and the fight clearly invigorated him (see his speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention, or read his give-no-quarter blog at Pajamas Media). And when the Tony Award-winning actor appeared onscreen alongside, say, Jeff Speakman (in 1996's DEADLY OUTBREAK), his dedication to the work was almost indistinguishable from the effort he put out for a prestige picture like Paul Mazursky's ENEMIES: A LOVE STORY.
Was there a definitive Silver performance? For those who saw the original Broadway production of David Mamet's SPEED-THE-PLOW back in 1988, it would probably be the hustling Hollywood producer Charlie Fox. He was also said to be sensational in David Rabe's HURLYBURLY as the sarcastic/flip casting agent Mickey.
When it comes to film, however, it's hard to settle on one singular moment of greatness. I wish I could say that his beset ghostwriter Broder from ENEMIES: A LOVE STORY is the first role that springs to mind. Or his keyed-up portrayal of Alan Dershowitz in Barbet Schroeder's REVERSAL OF FORTUNE. But they're not. No, it's Senator McComb - his sneering, caustic villain from TIMECOP - that inexplicably leaps to the fore. Though he was excellent in those other films, I can't think of another movie where he really let it rip like this. It's the one performance where you truly get the sense of what it would've been like to see him in his prime, raging away on the stage. The guy was devouring run-of-the-mill action movie dialogue like it was filet mignon; imagine what he did with the profane poetry of Mamet and Rabe.
One thing that stands out in Silver's film career was his willingness to play indelible historical figures. Aside from Dershowitz, there was Henry Kissinger in KISSINGER & NIXON, Bobby Riggs in WHEN BILLIE BEAT BOBBY, Robert Shapiro in AMERICAN TRAGEDY, and, in one of his subtlest, least-appreciated turns, boxing trainer Angelo Dundee in Michael Mann's ALI (I love Dundee quietly agreeing with Malcolm X - "He's right" - as he methodically tapes his fighter's fists prior to the first Sonny Liston bout).
I should also add that I'll always hear Silver bellowing "His father is the district attorney!!!" You either get that or you don't.
As was the case with legendary character actor J.T. Walsh, I anticipate that we'll miss Silver more in the years ahead. We'll be watching some barely serviceable, middle-of-April action-thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, and when the bad guy fails to register with his scenery-chewing "This is how I framed you for murder and sold your wife into white slavery" monologue, we'll exclaim, "Where the fuck's Ron Silver when you need him!?!?"
Then we'll go home, throw in TIMECOP, and be not ashamed. Because Ron never was.
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"...I'll come over there and pull your lungs through your nostrils."
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the only thing i've actually seen Ron Silver in, and thus my fondest memory.
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He was great in Timecop but he was really good on the West Wing as Bruno Gianelli. He will be missed.
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Kind of ironic that I interrupted myself and pressed the enter key. Either that I was looking for someone called Don.
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indeed he was great in Timecop,and in other films/series i have senn him.RIP ron silver.
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I never realized that he'd defected to the Republicans. That was mirrored in the show when he took over Vinnick's campaign in season 7, after running Bartlett's democrat campaign in season 3.
Anyways a terrific actor who made everything he appeared in more interesting. -
He was never small, he was never boring, and he never gave a false performance. He was an actor who knew the meaning of commitment to a part.
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not cool at all.
He played a great Dershowitz, in 'Reversal of Fortune". -
Fuck man, losing these guys left and right it seems. Pretty depressing.
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I was still in college and was having an industry related conversation with someone and she was walking by and asked if I wanted to be involved in the industry, when I replied yes she told me her son was an actor, I asked who and she said Ron Silver. I told her I thought he was a wonderful actor and that I love Speed the Plow and wished I could have seen him in it. She said some very nice things to me and wished me luck and said she would be hoping for me. Just an incredibly nice woman, it was a treat running into her. This was a few years ago, if she is still with us I hope she is doing ok and can find some peace in what a talented and smart guy her son was. I'll be hoping for her.
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And you have to give the man credit for being brave enough to be a conservative while maintaining a career in the film industry. A good, moderate individual.
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...he always seemed to be stuck in a riff inspired by mid-period Al Pacino ('And Justice For All', specifically). I did not agree with him politically, but 62 is way to early to go these days. RIP.
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First thing I saw him in, as a kid. Brian Libby scared the shit out of me, thanks largely to the believability Silver lent that movie with his unwavering intensity. Great write-up, Beaks. We'll miss him alright.
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... his Russian place-kicker in SEMI-TOUGH. Flawed Michael Ritchie, but Silver's memorable.
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Margaret (Leo McGarry's secretary): Leo, Bruno Gianelli to see you?
John Spencer was ready for this meeting too early and Ron Silver should have been 20 years late for it. A true loss that has weighed more heavily on my mind than I would have thought it could have. A testament to this fine actor and a wonderful man. -
Sad news. I absolutely loved him in Timecop. God bless his soul and peace upon his family, friends, and fans.
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First Andrew "Test" Martin, now Ron Silver. God Bless both of you
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I'll miss you, Ron.
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Mar 16, 2009 1:35:41 AM CDT
I can't believe you didn't mention that he was a secret agent fo
by kenny_fuckin_powers
I mean he was, it was him.
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You... are GOD, Joshua!
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You will be missed. And great tribute Beaks.
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When an actor does a movie like that, or heat vision for that matter, you know he's got taste. He will be missed -
How tragic. He was a great actor.
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just watched it again a week ago and his quiet determination alongside Ali was just so real and wonderful. not a single false not in this performance. as in all of his roles. a major talent and a major loss. too young to go at 62. fuck death.
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Ron Silver was one of those tremendous talents that always seemed to improve the movies he was in, especially those less than prestigious outings like LIFEBOAT, BLUE STEEL and the aforementioned TIMECOP (one of the few truly decent Van Damme movies). I'm gonna miss the guy. RIP.
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way too young
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to those who had political conversions after 9/11, all i have to say isWHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN??? THINK TERRORISM WAS CREATED ON 9/11?? THINK MUSLIMS WERENT KILLING PEOPLE BEFORE 9/11?? btw, thanks for cheerleading on a useless, immoral and illegal war that helped to bankrupt a country...but gave bush and cheney some nice retirement packages
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Couldn't have said it better man.
Ron was brilliant in The West Wing. -
He will be missed.
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I'm sorry to hear about that. Personally, I really liked his villain in The Arrival too.
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A minor movie called LOVESICK with Dudley Moore and Elizabeth McGovern where he basically plays Al Pacino and does a brutally dead-on parody of egomaniacal method actors. Very very funny, especially if you have known those people. The movie is flawed, has its moments, but he was perfect in that part. I always thought he was a fascinating person to watch on screen. REVERSAL OF FORTUNE is his best I think. I could not have disagreed with him more on his Republican conversion and love of Bush, but there is no doubt he was a talented actor. RIP.
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You look like shit to me
He was superb in what could have been easily a run of the mill role in Timecop, and he does stand out in my mind. From reading this I fully intend to check out some of his other work this weekend. -
Mar 16, 2009 3:24:35 AM CDT
WOW, A SHITTY B-MISTER DIED AND, YET, THE WORLD STILL GOES ON...
by 1978creepythinman
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NASA secret agent Ron Silver is gone. R.I.P.
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Ron Silver was awesome as the shrink. His attempt to cure a reanimating psycho was one of the best b movie roles ever. He was also good as the inevitable bloody smear on the wall. Tank you Ron for co-starring in the best Chuck Norris movie ever.
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Sorry to hear this. My father died of esophogeal cancer 4 years ago at the age of 66. Damn shame.
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Bruno Gianelli. A democrat with a spine.
Sam Seaborn: Why are you so bent on countering these idiot leaflets?
Bruno Gianelli: Because I'm tired of working for candidates who make me think that I should be embarrassed to believe what I believe, Sam! I'm tired of getting them elected! We all need some therapy, because somebody came along and said, "'Liberal' means soft on crime, soft on drugs, soft on Communism, soft on defense, and we're gonna tax you back to the Stone Age because people shouldn't have to go to work if they don't want to!" And instead of saying, "Well, excuse me, you right-wing, reactionary, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-education, anti-choice, pro-gun, Leave It To Beaver trip back to the Fifties...!", we cowered in the corner, and said, "Please. Don't. Hurt. Me." No more.
Fucking awesome performance. -
I always liked his performances. He seemed to put the same effort in no matter if the film in question was high-brow or schlock. I especially liked him in West Wing, Blue Steel and The Entity. His uptight, borderline obsessive psychologist character in the latter is particularly memorable.
R.I.P.
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I really enjoyed the few performances I saw him in.
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There's a recent YouTube clip of him being interviewed by David Frost. Check it out. I may quit smoking now - damn.
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As everyone else has already said.
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Ron Silver was a really good character actor. Everything he was in, no matter what the size of the role, he made an impact on you. He wasn't a forgettable guy when he was on screen. Too young to die at 62. He'll be missed.
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You know you miss him anytime you catch 'Nixon' or 'Breakdown' or 'Pleasantville'. The guy was That good. Ron Silver-well Timecop of course! And sooo many others. He was a good one.
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He always had a strong presence in his films and played amazing characters with rage simmering just below the surface. He was an amazing actor.
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..that he almost made Charlton Heston look like...well any other "soft-hearted" Liberal. Never really cared for his work, but Rest in Peace anyway.
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Mar 16, 2009 6:31:54 AM CDT
SILVER SHIT HIS PANTS ON 9/11 AND BECAME A REPUBLICAN TOOL......
by 1978creepythinman
A perfect example of how fear can change people.
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it's sad when a talent goes but when strong smart talent leaves us it's even worse
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He was great in that. Oh, and in BLUE STEEL of course.
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HIS FATHER IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY!!!!
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The last time I saw ron Silver was on a special newsnight review dedicated to culture and arts in the run up to Obama's inauguration. the panel talked about film and Micheal Moore came up and Ron Sliver delivered a devasating line about. Micheal Moore said Silver. hes a fraud in a baseball cap. Ron silver went way up in my estimation. that is what moore really is a fraud in a baseball cap. nobody has put it better than that. RIP Ron Silver.
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A man who changed his beliefs because of a life changing event, or an idiot who degrades that person on a talkback honoring him after his death? You're what's wrong with the world, "creepythinman". I don't care what his views were, he was a very fine actor and by all accounts, a decent and lovely person.
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Timecop and Blue Steel are the first two movies that spring to mind. I just re-watched Timecop a few weeks ago. He was corporate suit badass.
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When past Silver gets kicked in the face, present Silver grows a scar. It would have been funny to seen present Silver drop a few pounds instantaneously after this line. Think about it, would Timecop have worked with another actor in that role? Hell no. We see him play young insecure senator, and bastard, cocky, soon to be president senator. A 180 for this actor in just one movie.
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While a successful actor he went back to Yale to either work on, or earn his master's degree. I don't know if he completed it or not, but he didn't need further college. He just chose to educate himself.
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I love that line for that awful, awful fox show. The promo's were fantastic however.
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This was the best obit this site has ever seen. I've been quick to throw sabot in Beak's work here as much as the next troll, but seriously, this was one well written, Geek-Targeted obit. Every other article online talks about Tony Awards and some kind of fey nonsense about a plow, but for us geeks, TimeCop is our reference point. Cheeky, Cheesy, and Cheaply produced, its still a better movie with Ron Silver.
The only other thing I saw him in was when he played Dershowits(sic) in some movie about some nazi who kills his nazi bride - details are sketchy.
And while I wont debate the actual merits of his politics, anyone who wakes up one day and has an ephiphanic moment that radically changes their world view, and then STICKS TO THAT, I have to admire and respect. He could have taken the easy way out - he could have just stayed quiet. But no, he was loudly proclaiming to anyone who would listen, "I was so very wrong." Again, whether he actually was or not is for another discussion - but the fact that he had the conviction and courage to do that on a world stage, I have to respect that.
His wiki page says that he was a high school graduate. He didn't go back to college until well into his success, and for purely symbolic reasons. The important thing to remember is that if you know what you want to do - what you want to be, simply learn that craft and master it - dont burn your parent's retirement or the next 40 years of your own credit because someone said, "oh you gotta have a college degree." Want to be a doctor or a lawyer? Sure, go for it. But ultimately its just a very expensive slab of leather - make sure that what you want to do with your life actually requires one. -
Uh, No. Go look for Drew's obit for John Vernon.
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I think we can both agree that in either case, Harry shouldn't be writing obits any longer.
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I'm hoping English isn't your first language, because I'd rather you spewing bullshit everywhere was at least written better than a first grader.
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the first season of an all new Heatvision and Jack series to him.
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Mar 16, 2009 10:12:46 AM CDT
Had the pleasure of working with him about ten years back...
by jacknancerevenge
He was so filled with energy and passion about so many things besides acting. And here's a little known fact, in person the man was constantly mistaken for Al Pacino. Godspeed Ronny...you had a hell of a run.
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...when he did a movie in Toronto some years back. Can't remember what production it was but my buddy told me he worked him hard, making him scour the city for obscure coffees or cooking ingredients and such at all hours of the day and night. Said he got to despise the man personally, for being so hard driving, but that man, when he got in front of the cameras on set, he was a force to be reckoned with.
I loved his work. Always looked forward to him pop up somewhere. For me, it was his West Wing role that finally convinced me he was awesome.
Take care Ron. And when you get up there, give 'em hell. -
Hands down, The Best Invisible Rapist Movie ever made.
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...a class act, and NASA's finest assassin.
We'll miss you, man. -
My first exposure of him was from the garment trade arc on Wiseguy where he played Jerry Lewis' son and was putting head with rival Stanley Tucci. Even in those few episodes he was great and he became one of those actors that you always knew was going to deliver a top performance. It was great seeing him turn up on the West Wing years later.
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When his name comes up at next year's Oscars because he is a Republican. I enjoyed the guy's work and fuck stupid immature Hollywood liberals.
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Lay off the fucking candy bars."
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I forgot all about Skin until you wrote that quote. I watched a lot of playoff baseball during 2004 so I had that promo practically memorized. My favorite line was the girl screaming: "You can't tell me not to see him!" Never did watch the actual show though.
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It is the wrong time to blast the man for what party he belonged to for God sake. He is not even in the ground yet.
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Fluent in multiple languages, Masters in Chinese History-The man truly was a badass in every way. My heart goes out to his parents. It must really suck to outlive your offspring.
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Scifi channel is now called syfy.
It is really called syfy and I am not making it up.
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He was the bad guy and played himself, Ron Silver.
I also give him props for being one of the only people I've ever seen with enough balls to go after Al Sharpton on a debating panel, calling that con man on his past misdeeds. -
Kicks ass.
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Heh. I remember that commercial.
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The guy was unrecognizable. He was Riggs. Why do the great ones leave us too soon?
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As he checks over his younger self. And the lines keep coming. The more I think about it the more this movie would have seriously sucked without Silver.
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Yeah, he would've made a good Blue Beetle. He'd have to shave the beard, tho.
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Abe Vigoda will outlive everyone!! All hail the great Abe Vigoda!!
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In the great tradition of such luminaries as James Cagney and George Raft, Stuyvesant High School alum Ron Silver will be missed.
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Was great at it too.
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I always seem to think of Blue Steel when I come across Silver's name, thought he was good in that and of course Bruno was a great character. Sorking(as much bashing as he gets for West Wing) wrote great stuff for him and other great actors who appeared occasionaly on WW like Laroquette and Oliver Platt.
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You're just as bad as the liberals on this TB who are using this obit as an inappropriate forum to criticize Silver's political views. Shame on you, too, man. Of course, that's assuming you are one. I am a Democrat, and I am tipping the hat, for his performance in "Reversal of Fortune" shows clearly that the guy had the stuff. And Fergmeister, he was the bomb in Wiseguy. 62 is too damn young to go.
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Silent Rage was on Starz or something a few months back and I ended up sitting through it (saw it as a kid but didn't remember much). This time, all I could think about is how good Silver was as an actor (even in crap like this) and how truly stiff and terrible Norris was. It was actually jarring (the whole cast seemed like amateurs...except maybe the zombie guy). And Timecop is the only Van Damme movie I've ever made it through all the way, mostly due to Silver. Say what you will about the man, but he could act.
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I remember Ron Silver in Rhoda. I always followed his career. He could out Pacino if he had to. See him as Pacino in Lovesick. great in Enemies and Blue Steel but he was a standout in the West Wing. Too fucking young.
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He and Stanley Tucci had such chemistry on screen and more than made up for Ken Wahl essentially missing the arc due to a broken foot.
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"They say it's a tragedy when a father outlives his son. Frankly, I can see an upside." -- Abe Simpson
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from the Manchaster Part 2 Episode..."Yep, listen up I've been thinking, it might not be such a bad idea to lock you all in here and set the place on fire. We have 48 before we launch this campaign. We will work hard, we will work well and we will work together..... or so help me mother of God, I will stick a pitchfork so far up your asses you will quite simply be dead." Class. I hope and pray that sometime in the future I can use that at work and do Mr. Silver justice. RIP Bruno.....
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...I mean, why couldn't he just leave Heat Vision and Jack alone?! Why'd he have to turn it into a crusade?
Kidding, of course. Bye, Ron. -
Ron was a great talent who will be missed. Gone too soon, I know he had a lot more to give us, RIP Ron.
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the fucker. Oh well, rest in peace, RON Silver. Not the producer of the Craptrix.
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I agree. but people dont have any respect for the dead. or respect for anything these days. When Charles Haughey one of our former Leaders died a couple of years ago. The medias respect for the dead lasted 15mins. shamefull.
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"You can run, but you can't hide! Not from Ron Silver!" R.I.P Ron Silver!
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I always loved this film, I always thought it was JCVD's best of his career. I have seen it many times, and like any good action film, the bad guy is always, memorable. Ron Silver is awesome in this. He will be missed.
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Caught Garbo Talks from 1984 a couple of years ago and he's really good in this as well. My faves are still The Entity, Reversal of Fortune, Timecop and his work on the West Wing. RIP -
who I always look forward to seeing when I see his name in a movie or tv show. Didn't matter what it was, the name Ron Silver always struck a little fire in your brain. Great guy gone too soon, but he left us a lot of good work and memories.
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I always enjoyed Ron Silver - he was a terrific actor and brought a lot to each role.
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