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Edward Kirk Herrmann (July 21, 1943 – December 31, 2014) was an American actor, director, and writer. He was best known for his portrayals of Franklin D. Roosevelt in both the miniseries Eleanor and Franklin (1976) and 1982 film musical Annie, Richard Gilmore in Amy Sherman-Palladino's comedy-drama series Gilmore Girls (2000–2007), and a ubiquitous narrator for historical programs on The History Channel[1] and in such PBS productions as Nova.[2] He was also known in the 1990s as a spokesman for Dodge automobiles.[3][4]

Key Information

Herrmann started working in theatre on Broadway in 1972 with his debut in Moonchildren alongside James Woods. He received two Tony Award nominations, winning for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Mrs. Warren's Profession at the 30th Tony Awards in 1976. Herrmann received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in The Practice at the 51st Primetime Emmy Awards in 1999. He also received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture with the cast of Oliver Stone's Nixon (1995) at the 2nd Screen Actor's Guild Awards. Herrmann became known as a character actor having appeared in various films such as Warren Beatty's Reds (1981), Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Garry Marshall's Overboard (1987), Joel Schumacher's The Lost Boys (1987), Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004) and Chris Rock's I Think I Love My Wife (2007).

Early life

[edit]

Edward Herrmann was born on July 21, 1943, in Washington, D.C., the son of Jean Eleanor (née O'Connor) and John Anthony Herrmann.[5] Of German and Irish descent, Herrmann grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He graduated from Bucknell University[6] in 1965, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art on a Fulbright Fellowship.[7]

Career

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Theatre

[edit]

Herrmann began his career in theatre. One of the first professional productions he appeared in was the U.S. premiere of Michael Weller's Moonchildren at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., in November 1971.[8] He moved with the show to New York City to make his Broadway debut the following year. Herrmann returned to Broadway in 1976 to portray Frank Gardner in the revival of 'Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession. For his performance he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play at the 30th Tony Awards.[9]

Herrmann and Dianne Wiest collaborated as directors on the Williamstown Theater Festival in its 1985 offering Not About Heroes,[10] playing Siegfried Sassoon alongside Dylan Baker as Wilfred Owen. Frank Rich praised the performance: "If Mr. Baker's Wilfred is a bit of an uncomplicated, foursquare boy scout and if Mr. Herrmann's stiff-upper-lipped Siegfried at first arouses deja vu, they form a passionate symbiosis as the darker clouds gather in Act II. Both actors also have a natural way with the rhetoric of their characters' respective canons."[11] During 1988, Herrmann appeared in the New York production Julius Caesar as Gaius Cassius Longinus.[12] Herrmann stated he had joined after becoming tired with constantly having to wear a suit in his prior roles and finding Cassius the most complex of the available roles.[13] Frank Rich opined that Herrmann was the "liveliest of the leads by far" and that he would be better suited in the role of Marcus Junius Brutus.[14] In 1988–89, Herrmann starred with Alec Guinness in the London West End production of A Walk in the Woods. The play debuted at the Comedy Theatre in November 1988, and was directed by Ronald Eyre. As The New York Times reported, "Mr. Guinness and Mr. Herrmann share the stage uninterrupted for some two hours. The fictional play is rooted in the real-life relationship between a Soviet diplomat and an American negotiator who broke protocol in 1982 and made a private limited arms control deal while taking a stroll in a forest outside Geneva."[15]

Television

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1970s

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Herrmann was known for his portrayal of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the television films Eleanor and Franklin (1976) and Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977)[16] (both of which earned him nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie), as well as in the first feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical Annie (1982).[17] Reflecting on becoming involved with Eleanor and Franklin, Herrmann reflected, "It was a gift. You never get a script that good. Or a cast that good, or a director that good, or a designer that good, or a sponsor that good. And all on the same project? It was just blessed."[18] Joseph McAuley said of Herrmann's casting, "To a generation growing up watching television and the movies, Edward Herrmann was the personification of FDR. As an actor, he stood head and shoulders above everybody else (literally—he was 6'5") and he was an inspired choice to play the Depression era/World War II president for a generation who never knew the real man who had long since become an historical figure."[19] Emily VanDerWerff wrote that while she found Annie to be a mediocre film, "Herrmann's warm charm as FDR shines through. He's a kind, compassionate fellow, in a film that's all about the power of positive feeling and kindness."[20]

1980s

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In 1980 Herrmann starred in "Heal Thyself", a season 8 episode of M*A*S*H as Captain Steven J. Newsome, an army surgeon suffering from PTSD, and in 1987 he portrayed Grant Stayton III in Overboard and Max in The Lost Boys. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for Plenty at the 37th Tony Awards in 1983[21] and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 1986 and 1987 for two guest-starring appearances as Father Joseph McCabe on St. Elsewhere.[22] In 1984, Herrmann played Alger Hiss in the PBS docudrama Concealed Enemies.[23][24] During a break from filming, Herrmann praised the production: "This is perhaps the most ambitious thing public television has ever done. They were a little nervous about it, because of the cost. But they shouldn't have worried. It smacks of the real thing."[25]

1990s

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Herrmann appeared in the 1994 television film Don't Drink the Water.[26] Ken Tucker wrote, "In smaller roles, veteran character actors Austin Pendleton, Josef Sommer, and Edward Herrmann nail their lines like the seasoned pros they are."[27] Herrmann portrayed Herman Munster in the Fox made-for-television film Here Come the Munsters,[28] which aired on Halloween in 1995. Herrmann found the script "silly and funny" and wanted to play a clown again, though also admitting a lack of prior involvement with the original The Munsters: "I was way too old. I was out of college. I was going to be an actor. I have always admired Fred, but no, I wasn't swept up in Munstermania at all. I didn't have a lunch box."[29] In observing the plot of Here Come the Munsters, Herrmann was reminded of American family values, seeing the production as parodying such beliefs: "In our screenplay, the Munsters arrive here as refugees. We resist attempts to kick us out of the country by a vicious politician who keeps saying, 'America for Americans!'"[30] David Flint[31] and Nick Smithson[32] positively commented on the accuracy of his likeness. He played Harrison Beacher, Tobias Beecher (Lee Tergesen)'s father on Oz.[33] Herrmann earned a Primetime Emmy at the 51st Primetime Emmy Awards in 1999 for his guest appearances on The Practice.[34] Also in 1999, Herrmann appeared as President Fellwick in the television miniseries Atomic Train.[35][36] Ray Richmond commented that Herrmann "makes a swell U.S. President, reassuring and authoritative".[37]

2000s

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For two episodes in 2007, Herrmann portrayed Dr. Norman Shales, a strikingly old intern, on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. From 2000 to 2007, he portrayed Richard Gilmore on The WB's Gilmore Girls.[38] Series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino said Herrmann had been the first choice to play the character and came in to read the script despite his agent saying he would not: "We sat there in stunned silence as Ed opened the script and proceeded to read. And just like that, Richard Gilmore was sitting in front of us."[39][40] The audition had taken place in New York City; casting director Jill Anthony said his audition and that of Kelly Bishop (who was cast as his character's wife Emily Gilmore) were vastly superior to others trying to procure the same roles.[41] Bishop said she gained a friendship with Herrmann based on their similarities: "We, obviously, were older [than the rest of the cast]. But we were also New York actors, and we connected very well. We always did our crossword puzzles together in the hair-and-makeup room."[42][43] Both Herrmann and Bishop were also Tony Award recipients in 1976.[44] Alexis Bledel, who portrayed his character's granddaughter Rory Gilmore, recalled Herrmann's extensive knowledge and habits during breaks from filming: "Ed was so knowledgeable about theater, TV, and film, and what I remember most is how he would share so much of this knowledge. He loved talking about it so we had those long Friday-night dinner scenes where we'd be sitting at a table all day, and he would share so much."[45] Herrmann enjoyed the relationship between his character and that of Bledel,[46] and was disappointed by the series finale "Bon Voyage".[47] Caryn James assessed that Herrmann and Bishop succeeded in making their characters likeable[48] while Sarah Schweppe wrote that Herrmann "was such a comforting presence on this show."[49]

2010s

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In October 2013, Herrmann made an appearance on How I Met Your Mother in the sixth season episode "Knight Vision", playing a minister Reverend Lowell.[50][51]

Herrmann's death was written in via his character Richard in the 2016 revival of Gilmore Girls, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.[52][53] Lauren Graham, Herrmann's costar on Gilmore Girls, said, "He would have loved this [new series]. His death was just a loss for us personally. It's given the show a new complexity and depth. It's a nice tribute to him."[54][55] Sherman-Palladino told Entertainment Weekly, "It's safe to say that the death of Richard Gilmore, the death of Ed Herrmann, looms large over everything."[56] Scott Patterson, another costar, agreed with Sherman-Palladino: "[Herrmann's death] left a big void, but Amy honored it beautifully. He's throughout ... these stories. It's a wonderful homage to him as a person and to his character as well. It's nice to have him around."[57] After concluding filming, Bishop said of Herrmann, "There was a space where he was supposed to be, so he certainly was with us, and he's very prevalent in the show so that will make everybody happy I think, who'll miss him, but I'm sorry he couldn't be with us."[58]

Film

[edit]

Herrmann's film career began in the mid-1970s, playing supporting roles including Ezra Stiles, Waldo Pepper (Robert Redford)'s partner in The Great Waldo Pepper,[59] law student Thomas Craig Anderson in The Paper Chase,[60] the idle, piano-playing Klipspringer in The Great Gatsby[61] and opposite Laurence Olivier in The Betsy (1978).[62] He again portrayed President Roosevelt in Annie.

Herrmann played the lead in the 1979 Kieth Merrill film, Take Down, in the role of Ed Branish, a high-school English teacher turned wrestling coach. Among Herrmann's better known roles are as the title character Harry Johnson in another Kieth Merrill film, Harry's War (1981),[63] Grant Slayton III, the philandering husband of Goldie Hawn's character Joanna Mintz Stayton in Overboard,[64] Reverend Michael Hill in Disney's The North Avenue Irregulars,[65] Henry, one of the characters in the film-within-a-film in Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo,[66] and as Max, the mild-mannered head vampire in The Lost Boys.[67] He played Graham Sherbourne, the corporate foil to Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin's mismatched twins Sadie and Rose Shelton/Ratliff in their 1988 comedy Big Business. In 1993, Herrmann appeared in Born Yesterday.[68] He was offered praise for the role, Vincent Canby citing him as one of the four actors heading "the excellent supporting cast",[69] and Malcolm Johnson writing Herrmann and Fred Dalton Thompson had the "most convincing performances".[70] Herrmann appeared in the following year's Foreign Student, released on July 29, 1994.[71] Kevin Thomas commented, "Edward Herrmann, so often a fine actor, emerges as a caricature of the tweedy, pipe-smoking professor".[72] Herrmann portrayed Nelson Rockefeller in the 1995 film Nixon.[73][74] Herrmann appeared in the 1998 film Better Living as Jack, a priest who becomes a family counselor. Oliver Jones wrote that Herrmann was in "a rare comic form" in the role.[75]

Herrmann also had a supporting role as William Randolph Hearst in the 2001 film The Cat's Meow, starring Kirsten Dunst as Marion Davies.[76] A. O. Scott praised Herrmann as performing "with remarkable emotional agility"[77] while Kevin Thomas noted the resemblance Herrmann had to Hearst as being better than some of his costars.[78] Herrmann had a small role as Joseph Breen in the 2004 film The Aviator,[79] being assessed by Rich Drees as joining several actors in making "memorable moments"[80] and cited by Roger Friedman of joining other featured actors in creating "lovely cameos".[81] In March 2007, Herrmann had a supporting role in I Think I Love My Wife.[82][83] Kirk Honeycutt lamented Herrmann, along with costars Chris Rock and Steve Buscemi, as character actors "wasted on such lightweight roles."[84]

In 2011, Herrmann appeared in Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star, playing Jeremiah Larson, a father whose son Bucky Larson (Nick Swardson) discovers his previous career.[85][86] Robert Abele assessed Herrmann and costar Miriam Flynn as giving "aw-shucks performances".[87] In 2012, Herrmann appeared in Treasure Buddies, portraying Philip Wellington, the film's antagonist.[88] Herrmann took on the role due to the character being an English villain, allowing him to portray an antagonist with an accent, as well as being able to work with animals and make a film for children.[89] The following year, Herrmann had a small role as Dr. Vincent in Are You Here.[90][91] Herrmann's final appearance in a film was The Town That Dreaded Sundown, released in October 2014.[92] Gary Collinson wrote that Herrmann and Veronica Cartwright both offered "solid support, although they are a little underused".[93]

Voice work

[edit]

Herrmann was known for his voluminous voice work for the History Channel and various PBS specials, including hosting a revival of Frank Capra's Why We Fight,[94] and made appearances and did voiceovers in Dodge commercials from 1992 to 2001, and Rayovac batteries in the same timeframe. His voice work includes dozens of audiobooks, for which he won several Audie Awards. He played Casper Gutman in Blackstone Audio's Grammy nominated dramatization of The Maltese Falcon and played Peter Cauchon in Blackstone's audio version of Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan. [citation needed] Herrmann provided the narration for the 2010 non-fiction book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand, Josh Schwartz praising Herrmann as doing "a great job",[95] and Susan Rife assessing his narration as "urgent".[96]

After his well-received portrayal of J. Alden Weir in the play My Dearest Anna at the Wilton Playshop in Wilton, Connecticut, he was a special guest of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in their Ring Christmas Bells holiday concert in Salt Lake City, Utah, December 11–14, 2008.[97] He reprised his role of Franklin Roosevelt in 2014, providing the voice of F.D.R. in Ken Burns' PBS series, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History.[98] Herrmann received praise, Neil Genzlinger noting him as among the "top-drawer talent" of the voiceover cast.[99]

His final work was as narrator for another Burns documentary, Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, which aired in March 2015, three months after Herrmann's death.[100] Director Barak Goodman recalled Herrmann collapsing during the first day of his work on the project and explaining his illness of terminal brain cancer to the production crew of the documentary, Goodman furthering that by this point it was clear to Herrmann that he was not going to live despite receiving new forms of treatment: "He was confident he could do this, and felt it [was appropriate to] be his final project."[101] Mary McNamara wrote that Herrmann delivered "a final performance, equal in breathtaking courage and beauty, that embodies precisely what allows Goodman to explore the staggering numbers and many defeats without ever falling to its knees as defeatist."[102]

Personal life

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Herrmann came from a prominent Unitarian family, based in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He became a Catholic as an adult, creating a private chapel adorned with icons and reading each day from Thomas à Kempis's The Imitation of Christ.[103]

Marriages

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Herrmann was married twice and had two daughters. In 1978, he married his longtime girlfriend, screenwriter Leigh Curran. The marriage ended in 1992. Prior to his second marriage, Herrmann's future second wife, Star (Hayner) Roman, filed a paternity suit against him after he fathered a child with her while filming Harry's War (1981). Roman and Herrmann eventually married, and the union lasted from 1994 until his death in 2014.[104] Herrmann had one stepson, Star Roman's son from a previous relationship[105] who, as an adult, changed his last name from Roman to Herrmann in honor of his stepfather.[106]

Automobiles

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Herrmann was a well-known automotive enthusiast and restored classic automobiles.[107] He was a regular master of ceremonies for the annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance[107] and hosted the television show Automobiles on The History Channel.[1][108] He owned and restored several classics of his own, including a 1929 Auburn 8-90 Boattail Speedster and a 1934 Alvis Speed 20.[107]

[edit]

In December 2014, it was reported that Edward and Star Herrmann had filed a lawsuit against their accountants seeking $14.5 million that they alleged had been misappropriated. The suit was later dismissed.[109][110]

Death

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On December 31, 2014, Herrmann died from brain cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, at the age of 71.[111] The estate of Edward Herrmann has licensed his synthesized voice for audiobook narration through DeepZen.io from which the estate is granted royalties.[112]

Acting credits

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Main article: Edward Herrmann on screen and stage

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1976 Tony Awards Best Featured Actor in a Play Mrs. Warren's Profession Won
1983 Best Actor in a Play Plenty Nominated
1976 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special Eleanor and Franklin Nominated
1977 Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years Nominated
1986 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series St. Elsewhere Nominated
1987 Nominated
1999 The Practice Won
1995 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture Nixon Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Edward Herrmann

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from Grokipedia
Edward Kirk Herrmann (July 21, 1943 – December 31, 2014) was an American actor, director, and writer, best known for his Emmy- and Tony-winning performances in television, film, and theater. Born in Washington, D.C., Herrmann began his career on Broadway, earning a Tony Award in 1976 for his role in Mrs. Warren's Profession. His distinctive baritone voice and commanding presence led to frequent portrayals of authoritative figures, including Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1976 miniseries Eleanor and Franklin, for which he received an Emmy nomination, and numerous History Channel documentaries. Herrmann's film roles spanned comedies and dramas, including the progressive editor Max Eastman in Warren Beatty's Reds (1981), the aristocratic husband in Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), and the quirky inventor in Overboard (1987). On television, he gained widespread recognition as the erudite patriarch Richard Gilmore in Gilmore Girls (2000–2007), a role that showcased his dry wit and warmth over seven seasons. He also narrated extensively for educational programming, contributing his resonant narration to series on the History Channel, enhancing public understanding of American history. Herrmann died of brain cancer at age 71 in , leaving a legacy of versatile character work that bridged stage, screen, and voiceover mediums without major controversies. His career, spanning over four decades, exemplified reliable craftsmanship in supporting roles that often elevated ensemble casts.

Early life and education

Family background and childhood

Edward Kirk Herrmann was born on July 21, 1943, in , to John Anthony Herrmann and Jean Eleanor (née O'Connor) Herrmann. His father worked as an for automobile and railroad companies, later transitioning to roles in the automotive advertising sector. The family relocated shortly after his birth to , an affluent suburb of , where Herrmann spent his childhood. Herrmann's paternal ancestry was German, while his maternal side included Irish roots through his mother's O'Connor lineage. Raised in the stable, upper-middle-class environment of , he experienced a conventional Midwestern upbringing amid the post-World War II economic boom, with his father's industry ties reflecting the region's automotive dominance. Limited public details exist on specific childhood experiences, though the move aligned with professional opportunities in Michigan's industrial heartland.

Academic training

Herrmann attended in , where he began performing in theater productions during his first year. He graduated from Bucknell in 1965 with a in English. Following graduation, he pursued acting training at the Dallas Theater Center. In 1968–1969, Herrmann studied drama at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art () on a Fulbright scholarship. This postgraduate program provided specialized instruction in classical and contemporary theater techniques, building on his undergraduate foundation.

Professional career

Stage performances

Herrmann commenced his professional stage career in the early 1970s with the U.S. premiere of Michael Weller's Moonchildren at in His New York debut occurred off-Broadway in 1971, portraying the soldier Hinkle in David Rabe's The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel at . The Moonchildren production transferred to Broadway in 1972, where Herrmann reprised his role as Cootie (also known as Mel), a bohemian college student navigating post-adolescent aimlessness amid the era; the play opened at the Royale Theatre on February 21 and closed after 20 previews and 16 performances on March 4. In 1976, he earned acclaim as Frank Gardner, the opportunistic son of a clergyman, in the Broadway revival of George Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession at the , which ran from February 18 to April 4; for this performance, Herrmann won the for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the 30th Annual Tony Awards. Herrmann continued with leading roles in subsequent Broadway productions, including Mike Connor, the cynical journalist, in the 1980 revival of Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story at the Cort Theatre (November 14, 1980–January 4, 1981). He portrayed the British diplomat Raymond Brock in David Hare's Plenty at the Plymouth Theatre in 1983 (January 6–March 27), a role that drew a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. Later appearances included a replacement stint as Andrew Makepiece Ladd III opposite in A.R. Gurney's epistolary drama Love Letters at the Promenade Theatre in 1989 (October 31, 1989–January 21, 1990). In 1998, Herrmann starred as the tormented husband William Collyer in Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea revival at the Roundabout Theatre Company's , which opened on March 26 and closed on May 10 after limited engagement. Over his theater career, he garnered two Tony Award nominations, with his 1976 win highlighting his versatility in classical and modern repertoire.

Film roles

Herrmann debuted in feature films with the role of law student Thomas Craig Anderson in The Paper Chase (1973), a drama about students directed by . He continued with supporting parts in period pieces such as the idle Klipspringer in (1974), adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, and a pilot in (1975), directed by . Throughout the 1980s, Herrmann frequently portrayed authoritative or eccentric figures, including journalist Max Eastman in Warren Beatty's epic Reds (1981), which chronicled the life of communist sympathizer John Reed and earned Beatty a Best Director Oscar. He appeared as Franklin D. Roosevelt in the musical adaptation Annie (1982), directed by John Huston, and as the video store-owning vampire leader Max in the horror-comedy The Lost Boys (1987), Joel Schumacher's tale of teenage vampires in California. That same year, he played the snobbish shipping magnate Grant Stayton III in Garry Marshall's romantic comedy Overboard (1987), opposite Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. In the 1990s, Herrmann took on roles like Ed Devery in the remake Born Yesterday (1993) and the title character's father, Richard Rich Sr., in the family adventure Richie Rich (1994), a vehicle based on the comic strip. He portrayed in Oliver Stone's biographical drama Nixon (1995), which received four Academy Award nominations. Later films included in The Cat's Meow (2001), a period drama about a 1924 yacht scandal; in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004), earning the film five Oscars; and Randy Stratton, a corporate executive, in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), directed by Scorsese and starring , which garnered nine Oscar nominations. Herrmann's film work often emphasized his resonant voice and patrician demeanor, casting him as establishment types or villains in over 50 productions spanning dramas, comedies, and historical epics.

Television roles

Herrmann achieved early television prominence with his portrayal of President in the ABC miniseries Eleanor and Franklin (1976), for which he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series. He reprised the role in the sequel Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977), earning another Emmy nomination. Throughout the and early , Herrmann appeared in guest and recurring capacities on several drama series, including five episodes as defense attorney Anderson Pearson on (1997–2004). He also played Dr. Norman Shales, a cardiothoracic surgeon, in five episodes of (2006–2007). His most extensive television role came as the patriarch Richard Gilmore in the / series (2000–2007), appearing in 154 episodes as the Yale-educated, conservative head of the Gilmore family, whose refined demeanor and occasional clashes with his independent daughter provided central dramatic tension. Herrmann's performance contributed to the show's blend of rapid-fire dialogue and family dynamics, making Richard a fan-favorite character known for his intellectual pursuits and subtle humor. He briefly returned as Richard in archival footage for the 2016 revival . Herrmann made additional guest appearances on programs such as , , and , often in authoritative or historical roles that leveraged his resonant voice and patrician presence.

Voice work and narration

Herrmann frequently provided narration for documentary films and television series, leveraging his resonant baritone voice to deliver authoritative and engaging commentary. He served as the primary narrator for numerous History Channel productions, including the 2000 documentary Horror in the East, which examined wartime atrocities in the Pacific theater, and the multi-volume Presidents series chronicling American chief executives. In 1994, he previewed the launch of The itself in promotional segments, establishing his association with historical programming. In collaboration with filmmaker , Herrmann voiced in the 2014 PBS miniseries The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, reprising elements of his earlier on-screen portrayal of the president. His final professional engagement was narrating the 2015 PBS miniseries Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, a three-part adaptation of Siddhartha Mukherjee's book; Herrmann collapsed during recording sessions but completed the work despite his own terminal brain cancer diagnosis, which he disclosed to the production team. Herrmann was a prolific audiobook narrator, credited with over 300 titles spanning history, , and . He received multiple from the Audio Publishers Association, including recognition for works like the 2004 Audio Collection, a finalist for Audiobook of the Year, as well as 22 Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine for exceptional performances. Notable narrations included Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by , emphasizing themes of endurance, and by , capturing the 1936 Olympic rowing team's underdog triumph. He also voiced historical figures in audiobooks, such as biographies of , , and . Posthumously, Herrmann was inducted into Audible's Narrator Hall of Fame in 2017 for his enduring contributions to the medium. Though his voice work extended to occasional animated and commercial projects, Herrmann's strengths lay predominantly in narration rather than character voicing, with credits including additional voices in the 2005 Adult Swim series Tom Goes to the Mayor.

Awards and recognition

Theater awards

Herrmann earned the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Frank Gardner in the Broadway revival of George Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession, which opened on April 23, 1976, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. He received a Drama Desk Award nomination in the same category for this performance. In 1983, Herrmann was nominated for the Tony Award for in a Play for his role as Brook in David Hare's Plenty, which premiered on January 20 at the Plymouth Theatre. For his performance as Mr. Crawford in the 1996 Broadway production of , Herrmann garnered a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play and an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.
YearAwardCategoryProductionResult
1976Tony AwardBest Featured Actor in a PlayMrs. Warren's ProfessionWinner
1976Drama Desk AwardFeatured Actor in a PlayMrs. Warren's ProfessionNominee
1983Tony Award in a PlayPlentyNominee
1997Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actor in a PlayNominee
1997Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actor in a PlayNominee

Television and film accolades

Herrmann earned one Primetime Emmy Award out of five nominations for his television work. He won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Series in 1999 for portraying Anderson Pearson in The Practice. His Emmy nominations also included Outstanding Lead Actor in a or Comedy Special in 1976 for Eleanor and Franklin, the same category in 1977 for Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years, Outstanding Guest Performer in a Series in 1986 for , and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Series in 1987 for . In film, Herrmann's accolades were more limited, primarily consisting of ensemble recognition rather than individual honors. He received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 3rd Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1996, shared with the ensemble of Nixon.
YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1999Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesThe PracticeWon
1976Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy SpecialEleanor and FranklinNominated
1977Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy SpecialEleanor and Franklin: The White House YearsNominated
1986Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Guest Performer in a Drama SeriesSt. ElsewhereNominated
1987Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesSt. ElsewhereNominated
1996Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNixonNominated

Personal life

Marriages and family

Herrmann's first marriage was to actress and screenwriter Leigh Curran on September 9, 1978; the union produced one daughter, Ryen Alaire Herrmann, and ended in divorce in 1992. In 1994, he married Star Lynn Hayner, his second wife; they had one daughter together, Emma Madison Herrmann, and Herrmann became stepfather to Hayner's son from a previous marriage, Rory William Herrmann (formerly Rory Ryan). The couple remained married until Herrmann's death in 2014, and the family maintained close ties, with Ryen working in merchandising for , Emma based in , and Rory pursuing a career as a chef in .

Interests in automobiles

Herrmann developed a lifelong passion for classic automobiles, influenced by his upbringing in , near Detroit's hub. He became an avid collector and restorer, focusing on American classics such as and Auburns. His collection included notable vehicles like a Victoria by LeBaron, featuring unique custom aluminum coachwork on a junior and a 282 cu. in. L-head inline eight-cylinder engine producing 120 bhp. Herrmann achieved concours success with entries from his garage, including a 1929 Auburn 8-90 Boattail Speedster, which he acquired on the recommendation of a friend and showcased prominently. He also owned a SB Two Door Saloon, praising its "elegant simplicity of line and balance" in a published article. As an honorary trustee of the Motor Car Foundation, he supported preservation efforts for the brand's legacy. Beyond collecting, Herrmann immersed himself in the automotive community, serving as at the Pebble Beach for over 15 years, including a reduced role in 2014 despite health challenges. He narrated events and hosted television series like Ultimate Autos (1999–), which profiled desirable classics such as , , and models, and Classic Cars With Edward Herrmann. His enthusiasm extended to practical industry ties, including a decade-long stint as Dodge's spokesman in the 1990s with the campaign "The New Dodge. We've changed everything," where his refined delivery lent a cerebral tone to advertisements. Herrmann once reflected that automobiles had always been integral to his life, evoking a profound emotional response through their design and history. In December 2014, Edward Herrmann filed a $14.5 million lawsuit in against CohnReznick LLP, his former accounting firm, alleging professional , , and breach of duty in managing his personal and business finances from 2005 to 2014. The complaint claimed the firm failed to pay taxes on time, resulting in substantial IRS penalties and interest exceeding $2 million, and mismanaged investments, leading to financial losses that contributed to Herrmann's reported near-bankruptcy. Following Herrmann's death on December 31, 2014, his widow Star and estate executors sought to amend and pursue the case, but the dismissed the second amended complaint in 2016 for failing to plead claims with sufficient particularity under applicable professional malpractice standards. The Appellate Division, First Department, affirmed the dismissal on November 2, 2017, ruling that the allegations of tax errors and other negligences were conclusory and did not establish proximate causation or specific breaches beyond general averments. No other significant legal proceedings involving Herrmann as a party were publicly documented during his lifetime.

Illness, death, and legacy

Health struggles

In late 2013, Edward Herrmann was diagnosed with a grade 4 , an aggressive form of brain cancer. He chose to keep the diagnosis private, with even close colleagues from learning of it only through media reports after his condition worsened. Herrmann underwent treatment at in , but the tumor's rapid progression led to his admission to intensive care in the weeks before his death. The actor's health decline was marked by the cancer's terminal nature, with known for its resistance to standard therapies and median survival of 12-15 months post-diagnosis in such advanced cases. Despite his privacy, Herrmann continued limited professional engagements until his condition rendered further work impossible, reflecting a stoic approach to his illness amid a career spanning theater, , and narration. No prior major health disclosures appear in , suggesting the cancer emerged without documented precursors.

Death

Edward Herrmann died on December 31, 2014, at the age of 71, from brain cancer. He had been diagnosed earlier that year and spent the final three-and-a-half weeks of his life in intensive care at in . His son, Herrmann, confirmed the cause of death as brain cancer and announced that Herrmann passed peacefully at 8:30 a.m. following months of treatment. Herrmann's representatives described him as having "valiantly braved" the illness, noting his continued professional commitments, including voice work for documentaries, up until shortly before his death.

Posthumous impact

Herrmann's narration for the documentary series Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, directed by Barak Goodman and based on Siddhartha Mukherjee's book, premiered on March 30, 2015, marking his final professional credit released posthumously. The six-hour production, which chronicled the history and of , drew on Herrmann's established voice work for educational content, though it was completed amid his health decline. The revival : , released November 25, 2016, addressed the absence of Herrmann's character Richard Gilmore by depicting his funeral and family mourning, providing an on-screen tribute that mirrored real sentiments from the cast. Co-stars such as and issued statements emphasizing Herrmann's gentlemanly demeanor and profound influence on the series, with Bishop attending his bedside in the final days. Herrmann's body of work, including over 100 film and television roles plus extensive and documentary narrations on American history, continues to circulate via streaming platforms and archives, sustaining his reputation as a versatile with a authoritative suited to authoritative figures. Annual fan commemorations, particularly around anniversaries, underscore enduring appreciation for his portrayal of Richard Gilmore, often cited as a stabilizing paternal force in the show's ensemble.

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