An Academy Awards nominee for his performance in 1991’s Coen Brothers-directed film Barton Fink, veteran actor Michael Lerner has passed away at the age of 81 years old.
Michael Lerner made several appearances in the horror genre throughout his decades-spanning career, including the films Anguish (1987), Maniac Cop 2 (1990), and Omen IV: The Awakening (1991). You’ll also remember Lerner from the 1993 episode of “Tales from the Crypt” titled ‘People Who Live in Brass Hearses,’ one of the show’s most memorable tales.
Later in the 1990s, Michael Lerner played Mayor Ebert in the big screen movie Godzilla (1998), a role he soon thereafter reprised in the animated “Godzilla: The Series.”
Lerner’s nearly 200 credits in film and television also include The Candidate, Reflections of Murder, The Missiles of October, Ruby and Oswald, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Strange Invaders, Eight Men Out, Harlem Nights, Newsies, Blank Check, Tale of the Mummy, My Favorite Martian, Elf, Kingdom Hospital, A Serious Man, and X-Men: Days of Future Past.
For Barton Fink, Lerner was nominated for “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” at the Oscars.
Nephew Sam Lerner writes on Instagram, “We lost a legend last night. It’s hard to put into words how brilliant my uncle Michael was, and how influential he was to me. His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting. He was the coolest, most confident, talented guy, and the fact that he was my blood will always make me feel special. Everyone that knows him knows how insane he was— in the best way. I’m so lucky I got to spend so much time with him, and we’re all lucky we can continue to watch his work for the rest of time. RIP Michael, enjoy your unlimited Cuban cigars, comfy chairs, and endless movie marathon.”
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