Former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson Has Died

Former Tennessee Senator, presidential candidate, and actor Fred Thompson has passed away at the age of 73. The Tennessean  reports that a “recurrence of lymphoma” was the cause of death:

“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we share the passing of our brother, husband, father, and grandfather who died peacefully in Nashville surrounded by his family," the statement reads.

"Fred once said that the experiences he had growing up in small-town Tennessee formed the prism through which he viewed the world and shaped the way he dealt with life. Fred stood on principle and common sense, and had a deep love for and connection with the people across Tennessee whom he had the privilege to serve in the United States Senate. He enjoyed a hearty laugh, a strong handshake, a good cigar, and a healthy dose of humility. Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of Lawrenceburg, his home.

"Fred believed that the greatness of our nation was defined by the hard work, faith, and honesty of its people. He had an enduring belief in the exceptionalism of our country, and that America could provide the opportunity for any boy or girl, in any corner of our country, to succeed in life. "

As an attorney, he helped lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. As a politician, he served the state of Tennessee for eight years as a conservative Republican in the U.S. Senate and briefly as a possible GOP presidential nominee. As an actor, he stared in some of the most prominent films and television series of his time.

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Thompson also made a name for himself by appearing in prominent film and television roles. Many will remember him best as Manhattan district attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s Law and Order. He’s also appeared opposite of Bruce Willis in Die Hard 2 and Alec Baldwin in The Hunt For Red October.

His wife, Jeri, and his four children survive him. Thompson had three other children from a previous marriage, one of which, his daughter Elizabeth, tragically died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in 2002.

UPDATE: Over at our sister site, Hot Air, Ed included an interview he conducted with the late Sen. Thompson at CPAC in 2014.

UPDATE II: Gawker has apparently learned nothing about having some decency, even after they pulled a story that detailed how a gay porn star blackmailed former Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner’s brother.