RIP Fred Dalton Thompson

[Karzak]

Fred D. Thompson, a former United States senator, actor and Republican presidential candidate, died on Sunday in Nashville. He was 73.

The cause was a recurrence of lymphoma, his family said in a statement.

Mr. Thompson had an unusual career, moving back and forth between the worlds of national politics and mass-market entertainment. He left a regular role on the hit NBC drama “Law & Order” to run for president in 2008.

Mr. Thompson began his life in public service with a lucky break when his mentor, former Sen. Howard H. Baker, Jr., chose him over more experienced candidates to serve as Republican counsel on the Senate Watergate Committee at the age of 30.

His tough questioning of Alexander Butterfield, a former aide to President Richard M. Nixon, led to the revelation of recording devices in the Oval Office, a turning point in the investigation that led to the president’s resigniation. After the committee concluded its work, Mr. Thompson embarked on a lucrative legal and lobbying career.

“Fred Thompson lived life to the very fullest,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell, one of Mr. Thompson’s Republican colleagues in the Senate. “ The first in his family to go to college, Fred would go on to become Watergate lawyer, Senate colleague, presidential candidate, radio personality, and icon of silver and small screen alike, who didn’t just take on criminals as an actor but as a real-life prosecutor too.”

Born on Aug. 19, 1942, in Sheffield, Ala.,Mr. Thompson and grew up in the small town of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.

In a statement on Sunday, his family said that growing up in small town in Tennessee “formed the prism through which he viewed the world and shaped the way he dealt with life” and reinforced for him the values of hard work and a belief in American exceptionalism.

“Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of Lawrenceburg,’’ his family said.

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Rest in peace. I'll always remember him from Die Hard 2.

 

[HIjol]

He was great in the "Hunt for Red October", also...will forget the Reverse Mortgage commercials. Take care, Rear Admiral!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

SHIT!

RIP Admiral Painter / DA Arthur Branch...

 

[auntiehill]

I really liked him on Law & Order. As a senator, not so much, but he served his country, so I give him props for that.

RIP, sir.

 

[Samurai8472]

I remember him from "Days of Thunder"

 

[martok2112]

He was great in the "Hunt for Red October" Take care, Rear Admiral!

hear hear!
RIP Mr. Thompson

 

[od0_ital]

Didn't care much for his politics from when he was runnin' for president, but I enjoyed his small roles in The Hunt for Red October, Days of Thunder, Necessary Roughness & Thunderheart. And he was pretty good on Law & Order and its spin-offs...dude was in all of 'em but L.A. & UK.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Rest in peace Fred.

 

[Admiral2]

I liked his acting and his politics. RIP, FDT.

 

[Random_Spock]

I really liked him on Law & Order. As a senator, not so much, but he served his country, so I give him props for that.

RIP, sir.

So did I. Didn't agree with him politically though. Damn good actor though. RIP, sir.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Very watchable onscreen, if essentially a one-trick pony. But did the trick very well. RIP.

 

[Admiral Bear]

Rack 'em, stack 'em, and pack 'em!

Goodbye to a very well known face from the TV and movies.

RIP, Fred.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

Really Liked him in Law & Order.

Remember him from Days of Thunder as "Big John" (Bill France Jr.)

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogh1kHwivrI[/yt]

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

I remember him from "Days of Thunder"

I love his "Japanese inspection" speech from that movie. It was a very Arthur Branch-esque moment.

Very watchable onscreen, if essentially a one-trick pony. But did the trick very well. RIP.

Agreed. And he was particularly important to Law & Order during Seasons 13-15; when practically every conversation between him & Serena Southerlyn was a microcosm of whatever the debate du jour was on cable news between the neo-cons & the flaming liberals, with poor Jack McCoy stuck in the middle. He was always exceedingly charming on screen and I'm disappointed that I never got to meet him in person. I should start a new marathon re-watch of his Law & Order era (Seasons 13-17) soon.

 

[137th Gebirg]

He was great in the "Hunt for Red October", also...will forget the Reverse Mortgage commercials. Take care, Rear Admiral!

Agreed!

Russians don't take a dump, son, without a plan!

I don't think such a line would have sounded quite right being delivered by anyone else.

He will be missed.

 

[Keith1701]

Rest in peace Fred.

Yes, Rest in Peace Fred ~~~ You will be missed.