American comedian Michael Lerner died on April 8, 2023 at the age of 81. AFP/Scott Gries
The American actor died on April 8 at the age of 81. Indispensable supporting role in Hollywood, he has worked under the direction of Joel Coen, Ethan Coen and Woody Allen.
Almost fifty years of career, more than sixty films (Godzilla, Barton Fink ), participation in television series as popular as Starsky et Hutch, Kojak, Banacek, Iron man…American actor Michael Lerner died on April 8 at the age of 81.
It was his nephew, the young comedian Sam Lerner, who announced the sad news on the social network Instagram on April 9, the day after his disappearance. He paid tribute to her in poignant terms: “We lost a legend last night. It’s hard to find words to say how brilliant my uncle was. And above all, how much he influenced me. His anecdotes inspired me and pushed me to become an actor. He was the simplest, most talented man I’ve ever known…».
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Michael Lerner was born on June 22, 1941 in the famous Brooklyn neighborhood of New York. The son of an antique dealer, he initially intended to work as an English teacher. But very quickly, attracted by the stage, he took courses at the renowned London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, founded in London in 1861 and whose chancellor is today Benedict Cumberbatch. The legend says that he will meet during his studies Yoko Ono with whom he will work on the production of a short film. After attending the San Francisco Conservatory, her film career began at the dawn of the 1970s.
A scene from Barton Fink with Michael Lerner
In 1976, we find him in Mr Saint Ives of J. Lee Thompson alongside Charles Bronson and Jacqueline Bisset. Five years later, he plays the lawyer Katz in The postman always rings twice by Bob Rafelson with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange. Actor endowed with a strong presence on the screen, he quickly turns into an indispensable supporting role. In Godzilla, Roland Emmerich entrusts him with the character of Mayor Ebert. The greatest filmmakers know its qualities. The Coen brothers will employ him in one of his most notable roles, producer Jack Lipnick, in Barton Finkreleased on the screens in 1991. Finally, Woody Allen will ask him to interpret Dr. Lupus in Celebrity in 1998. Prestigious honors worthy of his talent…
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