Actor Bruno Kirby Dies

At the very young age of 57, actor Bruno Kirby passed away on Monday from complications related to his fight with leukemia, a battle he had only recently started to fight. Bruno Kirby is best known for his performances along side Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally and City Slickers, but also appeared in numerous other films and TV shows over a steady, thirty-five year career, including memorable turns in The Godfather, Part II and Good Morning, Vietnam. Lynn Sellers, Bruno Kirby's wife released a statement, as reprinted by the BBC, "We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from Bruno's fans and colleagues. Bruno's spirit will continue to live on not only in his rich body of film and television work but also through the lives of individuals he has touched throughout his life."

The New York born Bruno Kirby had a career that stretched from the pilot episode of M.A.S.H. in the '70s to a recent episode of Entourage. After breaking through in The Godfather, Part II (he played Clemenza), Bruno Kirby worked regularly for the next three plus decades. Bruno Kirby's most notable roles were in This is Spinal Tap, Good Morning, Vietnam, When Harry Met Sally, The Freshman, City Slickers, Sleepers, and Donnie Brasco. Bruno Kirby will also appear with Gabriel Byrne and Vinnie Jones in the upcoming Played. Bruno Kirby had an extensive TV resume as well, appearing in Tales From the Crypt, Homicide: Life on the Street (which he also directed an episode of), Mad About You, and recent episodes of The Jury and Entourage, in which he played a producer obsessed with the theft of his Shrek doll.

Bruno Kirby will be survived by his wife, Lynn Seller, his brother, acting coach John Kirby, his stepmother, Roz Kirby, his stepbrother, Brad Sullivan, and his father, actor Bruce Kirby.

[Sources: E Online, BBC News, IMDB]