“Columbo” and “LA Law” actor Bruce Kirby has passed away at the age of 95.
His son, John Kirby, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“My father loved acting and aside from his extraordinary professional career in television, film and theater, he never stopped working on a scholarship from Lee Strasberg for 9 years from his early years in New York, LA’s Theater East & The. Actors Studio.
“It was very painful for him when he could no longer perform. I am so happy that his great work will live on …
“He was a wonderful dad who loved Bruno and me and as a family he made it his business that we tour in these professional summer stock packs, something we would all look forward to every summer …
“I’m glad you’re up there with Bruno and so many of our loved ones.”
The American actor began his illustrious on-screen career in the 1950s, starring in the anthologies ‘Omnibus’ and ‘Goodyear Playhouse’.
He made a leap of faith in the 1960s when he was featured in television favorites “The Patty Duke Show,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Car 54, Where Are You?” and “The Defenders.”
In the 1970s and 1980s, Bruce moved on to sitcoms such as “The Doris Day Show,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and “MASH” and specialized in police dramas and detectives.
Notably, Hollywood mainstay Sgt. Kramer in “Columbo” and between 1986 and 1991 he represented DA Bruce Rogoff in “LA Law”.
Bruce has appeared on much-loved programs over the years, including “The Golden Girls”, “The Sopranos”, “The West Wing” and concluded his career with roles on “Numb3rs” and “Scrubs” in the 2000s.
Although he focused mainly on television roles, the artist did make it on several occasions, along with comedian Matt Dillon for the Oscar-winning film “Crash”.
Bruce also made it to Broadway, where he played Uncle Ben in 1984’s Death of a Salesman, starring Dustin Hoffman.
Bruce’s oldest son, Bruno, who also led an avid acting career, lost his life to leukemia in 2006 at the age of 57.
Survived by his second son, John, and wife, Rosalyn, Bruce led an acclaimed and distinguished career in Hollywood.