American actor and singer Ron Thompson has sadly died at 83 and tributes continue to pour in for the beloved star of both TV and movies.
It’s always heartbreaking to hear when a great talent has passed away, but there can be some comfort found when looking back on a legacy as admirable as Ron Thompson’s. The Kentucky-born star was arguably best known for playing the role of Detective Nopke in the 1970s TV series Baretta, but that was simply the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the celebrity‘s work, and the tributes that have emerged online since his passing are a testament to that…
Remembering Ron Thompson after actor passes away at 83
Tragically, filmmaker and frequent collaborator of Ron’s, Joe Black, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter he discovered his dear friend and colleague had passed away in his Van Nuys apartment on Saturday, April 13th 2024. The cause of death is unconfirmed.
Throughout both of their careers, they had worked on a total of eight movies together: Hate Horses (2017), Chicks, Man (2018), Suffrage (2023), and more. The pair stayed in regular contact as good pals.
Looking back on Ron’s work, he remains well known for the 1981 animated drama American Pop, as well as his role as Shant Mulligan in the play No Place To Be Somebody, which debuted in 1969 and won the Pulitzer Prize. Other legendary theater work includes the 1973 production of Does A Tiger Wear A Necktie? in which he commanded the lead role.
For those who remember him being on TV, Baretta will stick out alongside the part of Henry David Thoreau in The Rebels, which hit NBC in 1976.
As for the movies beyond his collaborations with Joe, he had a cameo in G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra as a helicopter pilot in 2009, as well as appearing in the 1992 classic Deep Cover (he played a store owner) with Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum.
Also performing with the likes of Henry Fonda and Richard Dreyfuss, his passion for performance took him to great heights.
Filmmaker praises star as ‘the Sam Jackson to my Tarantino’
Breaking the tragic news, Joe was sure to praise Ron immensely.
“For a man of his age, he was so full of life, he had such a presence,” he explained, even calling him “the Sam Jackson to my Tarantino,” in stressing how wonderfully they worked together.
Speaking with Deadline, his friend and professor at Hampton University Rel Dowdell paid his respects.
“Mr. Ron Thompson was a very versatile and talented character actor in all genres,” he praised, “as well as a true and diligent student of the comprehensive craft of acting and all of its nuances. He was a very congenial man with a warm and giving spirit, and was well-respected by many luminaries in the film and television industries.”
As well as friends and colleagues, fans have been quick to pay tribute too. “I am mortified,” one shared on Twitter. “Pete [American Pop] is one of my favorite characters ever put on screen. Ron Thompson was an absolute legend, and his mannerism and movement as Pete were just legendary.”
The director of American Pop also took to the playform to pay his condolences: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ron Thompson. Ron’s stellar performances as both Tony and Pete were critical to the success of American Pop. Ron was a true actor and friend. He will be missed.”
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