Thursday, March 24, 2016

SAG-AFTRA President and Actor Ken Howard Dies at 71

 Ken Howard, veteran character actor and president of the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union, died Wednesday in Los Angeles, California. He was 71.
Howard’s death was confirmed in a statement released by SAG-AFTRA, who said they were “deeply saddened” by his passing.

“Ken was an accomplished actor, author, teacher and unionist whose steady leadership as president of Screen Actors Guild positioned him to guide the union’s historic 2012 merger with American Federation of Television and Radio Artists,” the statement continued.
His cause of death has not yet been announced.
Howard famously starred in the television series The White Shadow from 1978 to 1981. In the sports drama, Howard played Ken Reeves, a retired professional basketball player who takes a job as a coach at an underfunded inner-city high school.
Howard won a Primetime Emmy for his role in HBO’s 2009 dramatization of the documentary Grey Gardens. That same month, the actor was elected president of the SAG.
More recently, he starred in a recurring role as cable company exec Hank Hooper on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock.
Howard also enjoyed a successful theater career. He appeared in numerous Broadway productions over the years and won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Drama in 1970 for his performance in Child’s Play.
Howard left an indelible mark in Hollywood, evidenced in the outpouring of condolences from stars throughout the industry.

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