Beloved Gilmore Girls actor dies at the age of 71.

The Emmy-nominated actor best known for his role as Richard Gilmore in Gilmore Girls, has died in a New York hospital.

Edward Herrmann, who had been battling brain cancer, had been kept in the ICU for the past three and a half weeks. With no improvement to his health, the star’s family decided to take him off life support on December 31. He was 71.

With an acting career spanning more than four decades, Edward appeared in films such as The Great Waldo Pepper, The Great Gatsby, The Betsy, Harry’s War, Reds, The Purple Rose of Cairo and The Aviator. He was also awarded a Best Actor Tony in 1976 for his role in George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession.

Ed’s on-screen daughter Lauren Graham, who played Lorelai Gilmore, took to twitter to express her sorrow.

More recently, Ed also appeared in Grey’s Anatomy, The Practice, St Elsewhere, The Good Wife and Oz, and he also portrayed US President Franklin D Roosevelt twice during his career. 

The 71-year-old’s manager, Robbie Kass, expressed sorrow at the loss of such a talented actor and “true gentleman”.

“Edward Herrmann, besides being an accomplished actor, was also a true gentleman and a scholar, as well as being an incredibly kind and decent man,” he said. “He will be sorely missed.”

Edward was married twice and leaves behind a wife and three children.