Tony Nominee James Gammon Dies at Age 70

According to the LA Times, character actor James Gammon died surrounded by family in his daughter's home in Costa Mesa where he and wife Nancy had been living. He died from cancer of the adrenal glands and the liver on Friday at the age of 70.

Gammon was best known for his role as Lou Brown in the 1989 comedy "Major League" and the sequel in 1994. He was also seen in "Urban Cowboy," "The Milagro Beanfield War," "Leaving Normal," "Ironweed," "Silverado," and "Cold Mountain."

On TV, he played the father on "Nash Bridges," as well as roles on "The Waltons," "Bagdad Café," "Homefront," "Middle Ages," "Streets of Laredo," and guest appearances on "Gunsmoke," "Grey's Anatomy," and more.

Gammon was also the co-founder of the MET Theater and received several Los Angeles Drama Critics Awards for both acting and directing. He helped establish the MET in the 1970s with a trilogy of William Inge plays, "Bust Stop," "Picnic," and "Dark at the Top of the Stairs."

"He did a lot of movies and TV, but I think his great presence and power was on the stage," Paul Koslo, an actor and director who worked with Gammon at the MET, said Saturday to the LA Times. "He always had something unexpected, riveting and real."

In 1978 Gammon appeared in his first Shepard drama, "Curse of the Starving Class," at The Public Theater in New York. He reprised the role of Weston in the West Coast premiere at the MET a year later.

Gammon starred in number of Shepard roles, including "A Lie of the Mind," "Simpatico," "The Late Henry Moss" and a 1996 Broadway production of "Buried Child," for which he received a Tony nomination.

Gammon is survived by his wife of 38 years, daughters Allison Mann of Costa Mesa and Amy Gammon of West Hollywood, two grandchildren, brother Phillip of Northridge, and sister Sandra Glaudell of Ocala.

Besides his wife of 38 years, Gammon is survived by their daughters, Allison Mann of Costa Mesa and Amy Gammon of West Hollywood; two grandchildren; a brother, Phillip of Northridge; and a sister, Sandra Glaudell of Ocala.

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