Will Smith leads the tributes to Men In Black star Rip Torn
The Emmy-winning actor has died aged 88.
Will Smith has been among those paying tribute to actor Rip Torn, who has died at the age of 88.
Oscar-nominated Torn, a character actor best known for roles in Men In Black, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and TV’s The Larry Sanders Show, died on Tuesday, his representative said.
Tributes have been paid to Torn, who won an Emmy Award for his work on The Larry Sanders Show and earned an Oscar nomination for 1984 film Cross Creek.
British sci-fi author Neil Gaiman recalled meeting Torn in 1990 and said he inspired the character of Mr Wednesday in his fantasy novel American Gods.
He tweeted: “I met Rip Torn once, in 1990, on a movie location in NC. ‘You write science fiction?’ he said, teeth in a scary grin. ‘I was in BEASTMASTER.’
“Then he shook my hand and I ceased to exist for him. That was the start of Mr Wednesday in American Gods. RIP Rip.”
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane cited Torn’s roles as Artie in The Larry Sanders Show and Bob Diamond in 1991 comedy Defending Your Life as among his best work.
He said: “Rip Torn always made me laugh. Artie and Bob Diamond were two utterly unforgettable characters.”
Alec Baldwin worked with Torn on TV comedy 30 Rock.
He said: “He was a deeply committed, phenomenal actor. See you down the road, Rip. You wonderful madman.”
Actor Albert Brooks tweeted: “R.I.P Rip Torn. He was so great in Defending Your Life. I’ll miss you Rip, you were a true original.”
Freaks And Geeks star John Francis Daley said: “The Larry Sanders Show. Men In Black. Defending Your Life.
“Rip Torn elevated these already excellent things.”
Texas-born Rip, whose quirky name helped cement his face in the minds of audiences, enjoyed a career spanning seven decades.
He is survived by his wife, Amy Wright, and daughters, Katie Torn and Angelica Page.
