Ron Glass, a long-time television actor best known for roles on Barney Miller and Firefly, passed away at his home on Friday night.
He was 71 years old.
According to TMZ insiders, Glass had struggled with a number illnesses of late, while still serving as an active member in the Los Angeles Buddhist community.
He had been under the eye of a caretaker when he died.
Jeffrey Leavitt, a representative of the former Emmy nominee, confirmed the sad news to TMZ, writing:
“Ron passed late last night of respiratory failure. Ron was a private, gentle and caring man. He was an absolute delight to watch on screen. Words cannot adequately express my sorrow.”
Glass w inas born 1945 in Evansville, Indiana.
He made his small screen debut in the early 1970s with guest appearances on All in the Family, Sanford and Son and Hawaii Five-O, among other hit programs.
In 1975, the actor landed the part of Detective Ron Harris on the aforementioned ABC sitcom, Barney Miller.
The role earned him a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series in 1982, although he lost the trophy went to Taxi’s Christopher Lloyd.
Still, Glass earned critical and viewer acclaim for the role.
The series wrapped up in 1982, at which time, Glass co-starred in a short-lived Odd Couple remake titled The New Odd Couple.
He also made appearances on The Twilight Zone, Star Trek: Voyager and Family Matters.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Glass voiced Randy Carmichael on Nickelodeon’s Rugrats and All Grown Up!
Nathan Fillion, who appeared opposite Glass on Firefly, honored his late castmate on Saturday with a photo on Instagram and a quote from Glass’ character on the former Fox series.
“We love you, Ron Glass. Don’t go far,” Fillion wrote.
Samuel L. Jackson, who worked with Glass on 2008’s Lakeview Terrace, added via Twitter:
“It was an Honor & a Pleasure to work with the Amazing Ron Glass! RIP, Sir!”
Meanwhile, Firefly creator Joss Whedon also had kind words to say about Glass.
“He got there with grace, humor & enormous heart,” Whedon Tweeted of the actor. “He was, among so many other things, my Shepherd. Raise, appropriately, a glass. Rest, Ron.”
We send our condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Ron Glass.
This death marks the second major TV death of the week.
On Thursday, Florence Henderson died at the age of 82.
