Former US senator and prolific actor Fred Thompson has passed away at the age of 73.
His family broke the news in a statement issued to several media outlets earlier today:
“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we share the passing of our brother, father and grandfather who died peacefully Nashville surrounded by his family,” said the statement.
“Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of his home.”
According to the statement, Thompson died following a recurrence of lymphoma.
After beginning his career as an attorney, Thompson alternated between politics and acting for much of his adult life.
Thompson served as a Republican senator for eight years.
Once considered a rising star of the Senate, Thompson retired after his term expired in 2003, stating that he “didn’t have the heart” for another term.
Thompson launched a campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, but dropped out after attracting little support in early primaries.
As an actor, Thompson is perhaps best known for his role as District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law & Order and its spinoff series SVU, Trial By Jury and Criminal Intent.
In addition to portraying Branch from 2002 to 2007, Thompson starred in dozens of feature films, including Cape Fear, In the Line of Fire and Die Hard 2.
Thompson is survived by his wife, political commentator Jeri Kehn Thompson, and four children.
