Lauren Graham was among members of the Gilmore Girls cast who fondly remembered actor Edward Hermann following his passing on December 31st from brain cancer. Hermann played the role of Richard Gilmore on the long-running TV show.
Lauren Graham–who presently stars in the TV drama Parenthood–played the role of Lorelai Gilmore, Edward Hermann’s on-screen daughter.
“My friend Ed Herrmann was the kindest, classiest, most talented man. It was an honor and a joy to know him, a devastating blow to lose him,” she said.
Kelly Bishop played Richard’s wife Emily Gilmore for all seven seasons of the small-town drama. She released a statement to the media about the loss of her on-screen husband.
“We, the Gilmore Girls family, are so terribly sad and somewhat stunned,” Bishop said in the statement. “We only learned about his illness a week or so ago. I got a call from [Edward’s wife] Star Monday night asking if I wanted to come to the hospital to say good-bye. I went yesterday and was able to give Ed love from Lauren [Graham], Alexis [Bledel] and Amy [Sherman-Palladino]… I have so many fond memories of our time together on Gilmore Girls and since, mainly via email. I think everyone who knew or worked with Ed found him to be absolutely delightful… Everything looks a little dim, as if the lights went down.”
'Gilmore Girls' star Edward Hermann passes away after battle with brain cancer. http://t.co/rOmlRNvp2y pic.twitter.com/JhcyNSu4ei
— KOMO News (@komonews) December 31, 2014
Keiko Agena, who played Rory Gilmore’s (Lauren Graham’s on-screen daughter, played by Alexis Bledel) best friend Lane Kim, tweeted her condolences when learning of Edward Hermann’s death.
RIP #EdwardHerrmann I was lucky to know you. I can't imagine what #GilmoreGirls would have been like w/o you. <3 to your Family.
— KeikoAgena (@KeikoAgena) January 1, 2015
Herrmann is survived by is wife of 22 years Star Hayner, two daughters Ryan and Emma, and stepson Rory. He is also survived by his cast mates from the Gilmore Girls–Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, and more.