Actor Rip Torn, best known for his roles in Men In Black and Dodgeball, has died at his home surrounded by family.
The legendary actor – whose full name is Elmore Rual Torn Jr – passed away in Lakeville, Connecticut, on Tuesday.
‘He died peacefully this afternoon at his home with his wife Amy Wright, and daughters Katie Torn and Angelica Page by his side,’ his representative said.
As well as his big screen appearances, Rip was also known for his small screen performances in the likes of The Larry Sanders Show.
Here’s what you need to know about his life and career.
How old was actor Rip Torn?
Rip was 88 years old at the time of his death.
He was born in Temple, Texas, on 6 February 1931.
The cause of his death has not been confirmed.
Who did Rip Torn play in Men In Black?
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The actor starred as Agent Zed in the smash hit 1997 comedy alongside Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones – reprising the role for the 2002 sequel.
Will Smith was among those who paid tribute to the actor in the wake of his death, sharing an image of them together in the movie as he said simply: ‘R.I.P, Rip.’
What else did Rip Torn appear in?
Dodgeball fans might remember him as the coach Patches O’Houlihan in the movie, starring alongside Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.
He also found fame on the small screen as Artie on the series Larry Sanders, which aired from 1992 until 1998 and followed the behind-the-scenes antics of a successful late-night network talk show.
The actor won an Emmy for the Supporting Actor in a Comedy category in 1996 – but was nominated in each of the show’s six seasons.
Although he had almost 200 film and TV credits to his name, his success came later in his career, admitting he hit a rough patch in the 1970s after being replaced by Jack Nicholson in the 60s classic Easy Rider, amid reports of on-set tension.
‘I wouldn’t say that I was blacklisted,’ he explained in 1984, ‘but the word got around that I was difficult and unreliable.Unreliable! In all my years in the theatre I have never missed a performance.’
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