Ron Silver passes away - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

McGillicuddy · 03-16-2009, 06:57 PM

Just heard on the news that Ron Silver, who played Gary Levy on Rhoda, died today of cancer at 62.

AB · 03-16-2009, 07:28 PM

That's really sad news. I always enjoyed his work.

OOliver · 03-16-2009, 10:00 PM

I heard that this morning, and was going to post it here because I recalled he was a semi-regular on RHODA at the end of the series (didn't he own a 'jeans' store?). However, I checked on another site (imbd) and they had him listed for only one episode as 'Sonny Michaels'. They have no listing for him as Gary Levy!

They do have an actor named 'Wes Stern' listed as Lenny, whom I vaguely remember...so then I thought Wes Stern played Gary as well. Talk about confusing!

None of his obits mention his stint on RHODA either - crediting his 'memorable' TV work with 'Veronica's Closet' and 'The West Wing'.

McGillicuddy · 03-17-2009, 05:14 PM

He is listed for the entry on TV.com, as playing Gary Levy (1976-78). imbd has him listed as playing Sonny Michaels in 1975. Maybe he played both.

AB · 03-17-2009, 05:26 PM

^ I don't recall the Sonny Michaels character but I remember him as Gary. It's been years since I've seen the show though.
Do you remember a movie he was in with Barbara Hershey from the late 70's or early 80's?

McGillicuddy · 03-17-2009, 06:11 PM

I don't, but I've seen him around in supporting roles on different shows and movies. I think he did work behind the camera also and was politically active. But personally I remember him from Rhoda.

OOliver · 03-21-2009, 01:08 PM

I don't recall the Sonny Michaels character either. I just remember him from RHODA as Ger Levy - and what he did to Rhoda's old apartment when they switched in 1976-77. One of the funniest episodes!

I'm surprised his stint on RHODA has not been mentioned in any of his obits, either. I think that show is what really got him noticed for other big projects in his career.

TripperFan · 03-21-2009, 01:52 PM

I think the Sonny character was when Ida was trying to set Brenda up with "a nice boy". Meanwhile, he was too nerdy for even Brenda. Then they brought him back as "Gary" in the jeans store with a totally opposite personality to the Sonny character. I think Sonny was an obsessed shoe salesman or something.

AB · 03-21-2009, 03:17 PM

^ Thanks for the info!

wayman · 03-21-2009, 11:33 PM

It was because of his role as Gary on "Rhoda" that I first knew who Ron Silver was.

03-16-2009, 06:57 PM	#1
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Ron Silver passes away Just heard on the news that Ron Silver, who played Gary Levy on Rhoda, died today of cancer at 62.

03-21-2009, 01:52 PM	#8
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	I think the Sonny character was when Ida was trying to set Brenda up with "a nice boy". Meanwhile, he was too nerdy for even Brenda. Then they brought him back as "Gary" in the jeans store with a totally opposite personality to the Sonny character. I think Sonny was an obsessed shoe salesman or something.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

03-16-2009, 07:28 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	That's really sad news. I always enjoyed his work.

03-16-2009, 10:00 PM	#3
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	I heard that this morning, and was going to post it here because I recalled he was a semi-regular on RHODA at the end of the series (didn't he own a 'jeans' store?). However, I checked on another site (imbd) and they had him listed for only one episode as 'Sonny Michaels'. They have no listing for him as Gary Levy! They do have an actor named 'Wes Stern' listed as Lenny, whom I vaguely remember...so then I thought Wes Stern played Gary as well. Talk about confusing! None of his obits mention his stint on RHODA either - crediting his 'memorable' TV work with 'Veronica's Closet' and 'The West Wing'.

03-17-2009, 05:14 PM	#4
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	He is listed for the entry on TV.com, as playing Gary Levy (1976-78). imbd has him listed as playing Sonny Michaels in 1975. Maybe he played both.

03-17-2009, 05:26 PM	#5
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	^ I don't recall the Sonny Michaels character but I remember him as Gary. It's been years since I've seen the show though. Do you remember a movie he was in with Barbara Hershey from the late 70's or early 80's?

03-17-2009, 06:11 PM	#6
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I don't, but I've seen him around in supporting roles on different shows and movies. I think he did work behind the camera also and was politically active. But personally I remember him from Rhoda.

03-21-2009, 01:08 PM	#7
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	I don't recall the Sonny Michaels character either. I just remember him from RHODA as Ger Levy - and what he did to Rhoda's old apartment when they switched in 1976-77. One of the funniest episodes! I'm surprised his stint on RHODA has not been mentioned in any of his obits, either. I think that show is what really got him noticed for other big projects in his career.

03-21-2009, 03:17 PM	#9
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	^ Thanks for the info!

03-21-2009, 11:33 PM	#10
wayman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 237	It was because of his role as Gary on "Rhoda" that I first knew who Ron Silver was.