Oscar-nominated actor George Segal dies at age 87 ‘due to complications from bypass surgery’
- The Goldbergs star George Segal has died at the age of 87, his wife Sonia said
- ‘The family is devastated to announce that this morning George Segal passed away due to complications from bypass surgery,’ Sonia said in a statement
- He was known for his roles in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Just Shoot Me
- Segal was also famous for playing grandfather Albert ‘Pops’ Solomon on The Goldbergs since 2013
George Segal (pictured in 2011), the Oscar-nominated actor who sparred with Richard Burton in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, has died at the age of 87
George Segal, the Oscar-nominated actor who sparred with Richard Burton in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, romanced Glenda Jackson in A Touch of Class and won laughs in the TV sitcom The Goldbergs, has died at the age of 87, his wife Sonia said on Tuesday.
‘The family is devastated to announce that this morning George Segal passed away due to complications from bypass surgery,’ Sonia Segal said in a statement to entertainment outlets Variety and Deadline Hollywood.
Charming and witty, Segal excelled in dramatic and comedic roles and had a life-long passion for the banjo.
Segal’s acting career began on the New York stage and television in the early 1960s.
A native of Great Neck, New York, Segal’s most famous role was in a harrowing 1966 drama, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
The entire cast of the film, based on Edward Albee’s acclaimed play, was nominated for Academy Awards: Elizabeth Taylor and Burton for starring roles, Sandy Dennis and Segal for supporting performances. The women won Oscars, the men did not.
To younger audiences, he was better known for playing magazine publisher Jack Gallo on the long-running NBC series Just Shoot Me from 1997 to 2003, and as grandfather Albert ‘Pops’ Solomon on The Goldbergs since 2013.
He performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1981 with his group, the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band.
To younger audiences, he was better known for playing magazine publisher Jack Gallo on the long-running NBC series Just Shoot Me from 1997 to 2003, and as grandfather Albert ‘Pops’ Solomon on the The Goldbergs (top right) since 2013
He quickly moved into films, playing an artist in the star-studded ensemble drama Ship of Fools and a scheming, wily American corporal in a World War Two prisoner-of-war camp in King Rat in 1965.
Tributes began to pour in for Segal with some remembering him as a ‘true gem’ and a ‘legend’.
‘Shocked and saddened to hear of #GeorgeSegal passing away! From being on set of #JustShootMe to directing him on #Goldbergs, he was a true gem and great man. He will be missed!’ actress Melissa Joan Hart shared on Instagram.
Adam F. Goldberg, the director of The Goldbergs, which is based off his childhood, tweeted: ‘Today we lost a legend. It was a true honor being a small part of George Segal’s amazing legacy.
‘By pure fate, I ended up casting the perfect person to play Pops. Just like my grandfather, George was a kid at heart with a magical spark.’
Segal is survived by his wife, Sonia, and his two daughters, Polly and Elizabeth.
Segal received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California
A native of Great Neck, New York, Segal’s (left) most famous role was in a harrowing 1966 drama, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Tributes began to pour in for Segal with some remembering him as a ‘true gem’ and a ‘legend’
