Rachel Murray/WireImage/Getty Images
Michael Lerner, an actor who appeared on TV shows like Clueless and Glee and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Barton Frink, has died. He was 81 years old.
Lerner died Saturday night, his nephew and The Goldbergs actor Sam Lerner confirmed in a tribute post 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 on me,” Sam wrote. “His stories have always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting. He was the coolest, most confident and talented guy and the fact that he was my blood will always make me feel special.”
Sam continued: “Anyone who knows him knows how crazy he was – in the best sense of the word. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend so much time with him and we are all lucky to be able to watch his work the rest of the time. RIP Michael, enjoy your unlimited Cuban cigars, comfy chairs and an endless movie marathon.”
Further details on Michael’s cause of death were not released.
Lerner had an extensive career in film and television. In 1991, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as producer Jack Lipnick in Ethan and Joel Cohen’s Barton Fink. In 1996, he signed on to play Mel Horowitz, Cher’s father, in the television adaptation of Clueless. Lerner also had a recurring role on Glee, where he played Sidney Greene, an investor working on the revival of the Broadway musical Funny Girl who shared screen time with Lea Michele.
His films include National Lampoon’s Class Reunion (1982), Harlem Nights (1989), Newsies (1992), Blank Check (1994), The Beautician and the Beast (1997), Godzilla (1998), The Mod Squad (1999), Elf (2003), Poster Boy (2004), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) to name a few.
Some of Lerner’s television appearances include The Good Guys (1969), The Brady Bunch (1969), The Bob Newhart Show (1973), M*A*S*H (1974), The Odd Couple (1974), Starsky & Hutch (1975 ), Rhoda (1975), Kojak (1978), Wonder Woman (1978), Hill Street Blues (1983), The A-Team (1985), Courthouse (1995), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2003), Kingdom Hospital (2004), Saving Grace (2009), The Good Wife (2012) and Suburgatory (2012) to name a few.