Fred Thompson died Sunday of Cancer. The popular attorney, actor and Senator was a fixture in American public life and continuing roles in politics, movies and television.
Thompson, a favorite son of Tennessee, became a public figure as counsel for the Senate Intelligence Committee and minority counsel for the Senate Watergate Committee. He also served as campaign manager for Tennessee Senator Howard Baker.
Many of us remember him as an actor in more than twenty productions including Hunt for Red October, and Die Hard 2.
He was elected Senator from Tennessee for the remainder of Al Gore's Senate seat (2 years) and re-elected to the seat in his own right. He is quoted as saying in a California speech, "After two years in Washington, I often long for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."
Upon his retirement from the Senate, Fred Thompson returned to the acting profession in a multi-year run on the popular Law and Order series.
In 2007 he returned briefly to politics as a candidate for President, but the series was cancelled for bad ratings.
He was an imposing figure at 6'6" with a familiar voice. He also served as a product spokesman on TV and a talkshow host on the radio.
Rest in Peace as an American Icon. You will be missed.
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