Actor and politician Fred Thompson, who rode his homespun manner and a red pickup truck to a U.S. Senate victory, died Sunday of lymphoma. He was 73.
A family statement said Thompson, who had roles in “Law & Order” and “The Hunt for Red October,” died surrounded by loved ones in Tennessee, the state he represented in the Senate.
“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 in Nashville,” the statement added. “Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of … his home.”
The one-time presidential candidate towered at 6-foot-6. He leaves behind an acting legacy channeling men of power: a decorated admiral, a president, law enforcement officers and prosecutors with credits including “In the Line of Fire,” “Die Hard II” and “Cape Fear.”
Born in Sheffield, Ala., to a car salesman, Thompson became an attorney in Tennessee with degrees from Memphis State University and Vanderbilt University.
He went on to public service working the re-election campaign for former Republican Sen. Howard Baker and his Watergate Committee.
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His first foray in front of Hollywood cameras was a role playing himself, the lawyer who defended a Tennessee Parole Board whistleblower. The real life story became the 1985 movie “Marie.”
He took over Al Gore’s old Senate seat for two terms representing Nashville, Tenn., from 1994 to 2003, a political career applauded by the former Vice President the night of Thompson’s passing.
“At a moment of history’s choosing, Fred’s extraordinary integrity while working with Senator Howard Baker on the Watergate Committee helped our nation find its way,” Gore said in a statement Sunday night. “I was deeply inspired by his matter-of-fact, no nonsense moral courage in that crucible. Tennessee and our nation owe a great debt to Fred Thompson. We will miss him.”
Thompson’s variety in careers made him an asset, Tennessee U.S. Senator Bob Corker said in his own statement.
“From the courtroom to Capitol Hill to Hollywood, his larger than life personality was infectious and had a way of making all of those around him strive to be better,” Corker wrote. “Through his many different roles in public life, Fred never forgot where he came from.”
Thompson’s nine years in the nation’s capital were marred by the accidental prescription drug overdose death of his daughter, Elizabeth Thompson Panici, 38, that overshadowed his 2002 marriage to political and media specialist Jeri Kehn.
Despite being a rising GOP star, Thompson retired from his seat in January 2003, instead of going forward with another six-year term.
Too much time had been wasted on partisan bickering, Thompson recalled.
“I simply do not have the heart for another six-year term,” Thompson said at the time of his decision. “Serving in the Senate has been a tremendous honor, but I feel that I have other priorities that I need to attend to.”
He returned to the familiar pastime of acting, playing the pivotal role of New York County District Attorney Arthur Branch on “Law & Order” for five seasons before throwing his hat into the Republican presidential primary in 2007.
Accused of being lazy and lacking the ambition required of a formidable candidate, Thompson dropped out of the race in the face of poor primary and caucus results after only five months. He endorsed John McCain’s campaign.
After retiring from politics, Thompson hosted a conservative radio talk show between 2009 and 2011 and became a TV advertising pitchman for American Advisers Group, a reverse mortgage financial company.
He had a scattering of roles since his presidential campaign, including two episodes on “The Good Wife” and most recently, NBC’s “Allegiance.”
“He was a real gentleman, and I enjoyed working with him on The Good Wife,” actor Josh Charles tweeted.
With News Wire Services.