Ken Howard, Actor And Screen Actors Guild President, Dies At 71
Ken Howard, the distinguished actor and president of SAG-AFTRA - the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists - has died at the age of 71.
He was known for his roles in TV shows like basketball drama ‘The White Shadow’, 'The West Wing’, 'Dynasty’, 'Melrose Place’ and '30 Rock’, and won an Emmy for his role as Phelan Beale in the HBO movie 'Grey Gardens’.
He became the president of SAG-AFTRA unions in 2009 and was elected for a second term in 2011.
George Clooney, who starred with Howard in 'Michael Clayton’, was among those leading the tributes.
“There’s a story about how a young actor met Ken on the Fox lot in 1983 and told him what a fan he was ofThe White Shadow,” he said.
“Ken asked that actor what he did and the young man said, 'Well, someday I hope to be lucky enough to work with you.’ Then he told Ken he had an audition all the way across town at Paramount, but he wasn’t going to make it because all he had was a bike.
“So Ken put his bike in the trunk of his car and dropped him off at Paramount. Then Ken just waved goodbye and said good luck, 'I hope we do get that chance to work together.’ I didn’t get that audition, But I did get the chance to work with him years later. It was an honor. Today his obituary read that he was six-foot-six, but he was so much taller than that.”
Alec Baldwin added: “I had known Ken most of my career, as I always remember White Shadow as a big hit on CBS. Later on, when he became president of SAG, I would see him regularly at the SAG awards. Ken was a great union leader and he made me proud to serve as SAG Ambassador for a couple of years.
“When Ken showed up on the '30 Rock’ set to play Hank Hooper, the owner of Kabletown, he reminded us all of just how funny he was. He nailed it. So often, union leaders lose a good part of their career as performers. Ken showed up, the head of SAG, and killed us with his take on the character and his timing. He was smart, talented and a doll to work with.”
Director David O. Russell said: “Ken Howard was a bit of a hero to me since high school back east because a kid I knew got a role on The White Shadow, acted with Ken, said what a good guy he was and we all watched the show. He was a terrific actor and person. I’m grateful we got to work with him for a day on Joy, and he was a very good SAG president. I’m sad for him to be gone so soon.”
The cause of death has not been disclosed, but he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007 and had recently been hospitalised with shingles.
Image credits: Reuters/Rex Features/Getty
