Michael Lerner, ‘Barton Fink’ Actor, Dies at 81

 Michael Lerner, a renowned actor known for his roles in popular movies like "Elf," "Godzilla," and "X-Men: Days of Future Past,"

 

passed away on Saturday night. He was 81 years old. Lerner also earned critical acclaim for his performance in Joel and Ethan Coen's 1991 psychological comedy "Barton Fink," receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Michael Lerner, ‘Barton Fink’ Actor, Dies at 81

Actor Sam Lerner, who appears in the TV series "The Goldbergs," confirmed the passing of his uncle Michael Lerner in a post on Instagram on Sunday afternoon. However, no additional information about Michael Lerner's death has been made available as of now.

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Sam Lerner mourned the loss of his uncle Michael Lerner, whom he described as a legendary figure in the entertainment industry. Lerner credited his uncle as a major source of inspiration and motivation for him, thanks to his incredible talent and captivating storytelling skills. Lerner also praised Michael's unique personality, describing him as a confident, cool, and immensely talented person, whom he felt privileged to call family.

Who was Michael Lerner in 'Barton Fink'?

Sam Lerner expressed gratitude for the time he was able to spend with his uncle Michael Lerner and acknowledged the good fortune of being able to continue to appreciate Michael's body of work for years to come. Lerner went on to offer his uncle his final respects and wished him well in his eternal rest, suggesting that Michael enjoy all the pleasures that he can now indulge in, such as unlimited Cuban cigars, comfortable chairs, and an endless array of movies to watch.

Michael Lerner, ‘Barton Fink’ Actor, Dies at 81

Michael Lerner's acting career gained traction during the 1970s and 1980s, as he steadily appeared in numerous productions. However, his breakthrough came in 1992, when he earned an Oscar nomination for his role in the Coen brothers' period thriller "Barton Fink." In the film, Lerner portrayed the role of Jack Lipnick, a forceful and domineering movie mogul who serves as the boss to John Turturro's titular screenwriter. Lerner's portrayal of the imposing studio executive is widely regarded as a standout performance and a key feature of the movie's complex and multi-layered tone. Following this success, Lerner reunited with the Coen brothers for a brief role in their 2009 existential comedy "A Serious Man."

What happened to Michael Lerner?

Following his Academy Award nomination, Michael Lerner's profile as an actor grew in the 1990s, and he became a recognizable face to movie audiences. Among his most notable film credits during this time were "Newsies," "Blank Check," "No Escape," and "Celebrity." In Roland Emmerich's 1998 monster movie "Godzilla," Lerner played the role of Mayor Ebert, a self-important and overwhelmed New York leader, who was a clear parody of renowned film critic Roger Ebert. Lerner was made up to resemble the "At the Movies" co-host in the blockbuster hit. (Despite giving the film a 1.5-star review, Ebert praised Lerner for his "gamely played" performance.)

Who was Barton Fink?

Michael Lerner remained active as an actor in the years following the turn of the century. He played a strict supervisor to James Caan's disgruntled publishing company executive in the 2003 holiday comedy "Elf," as well as a United States Senator who is skeptical of mutants in the 2014 blockbuster "X-Men: Days of Future Past." Lerner's final movie credit came in 2015 with the comedy-drama "Ashby."

How old was Sam Lerner when he died?

Michael Lerner was born on June 22, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York. He started pursuing his acting career by working at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco during the late 1960s. Lerner, who was of Romanian-Jewish descent, began with supporting roles in TV series such as "MAS*H," "The Rockford Files," "Starsky & Hutch," and "Hill Street Blues," among many others. His notable film credits include "The Candidate," "The Postman Always Rings Twice," "Eight Men Out," and "Harlem Nights."Michael Lerner, ‘Barton Fink’ Actor, Dies at 81