Hollywood lost a beloved star, because George Segal has passed away. The death of the 87-year-old star on The Goldbergs was announced by his wife of 24 years, Sonia Schultz Greenbaum, in a heartbreaking statement on March 23. You can read on to learn the cause of the actor’s death — and the legacy he left behind in Hollywood — below.
— The Goldbergs (@TheGoldbergsABC) March 24, 2021
Before we get into the details of George’s passing and career, we want to highlight the tributes his peers wrote for the revered actor. His work family from The Goldbergs wrote in a statement obtained by HollywoodLife, “On behalf of everyone at the Goldberg’s we are devastated at the loss of our dear friend, George. He was kind, sweet, beyond talented and funny. George was the true epitome of class and he touched all of our lives so deeply. It was an honor and a privilege to have him as a colleague and friend all of these years. It is no surprise to any of us that knew him so well that he is a true national treasure. He will be missed by all. POPS, we will miss your banjo playing and your infectious laugh. Rest in peace.”
George’s Sony Pictures Television family also told HollywoodLife, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of George Segal. He was a true icon and legend in this business and an integral member of our Sony family. George brightened the screen whenever he was on camera and was a warm and genuine gentleman. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. We will miss him greatly.”
There was also the actor’s manager and friend, Abe Hoch, who wrote, “I am saddened by the fact that my close friend and client of many years has passed away. I will miss his warmth, humor, camaraderie and friendship. He was a wonderful human.”
George Segal’s Death Was Caused By ‘Complications’ From His Surgery
A bypass surgery is also known as a coronary bypass surgery, and it “redirects blood around a section of a blocked or partially blocked artery in your heart,” the Mayo Clinic explains, adding, “The procedure involves taking a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm or chest and connecting it below and above the blocked arteries in your heart. With a new pathway, blood flow to the heart muscle improves.”
George Segal Has Starred On Many Famous TV Shows
George Was In Countless Movies
Long before he starred as the beloved grandfather on The Goldbergs, George made a name for himself as a big-time movie star in the ’60s. He made his acting debut in the 1960 TV movie The Closing Door, but George captured critics’ attention in 1965 when he starred on Ship of Fools (which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture) and King Rat.
This led to a successful movie career that put George alongside many other A-list stars. He co-starred with John Travolta and Kirstie Alley in the rom-coms Look Who’s Talking (1989) and Look Who’s Talking Now (1993) — you can watch one of George’s scenes with John above!
In what was one of his most notable roles, George played the college professor alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in the 1966 feature Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? This earned George a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role from the Academy Awards. George also teamed up with Glenda Jackson to lead the 1973 rom-com, A Touch of Class.
Before Becoming An Actor, He Was A Banjo Player
After graduating from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in performing arts and drama, George took his musical talents to the army where he performed with the Corporal Bruno’s Sad Sack Six.
Once George became an established actor, he released three albums between the ’60s-’80s: The Yama Yama Man, A Touch of Ragtime and Basin Street.
The Famous Actor Was Married Three Times
Before rekindling his relationship with Sonia, George had been married two times. The actor married Linda Rogoff, who managed the R&B group The Pointer Sisters, in 1983 and stayed with her up until she died of aplastic anemia in 1996. George’s first wife was film producer Marion Sobel, whom he was married to between 1956-1983 and welcomed two children with: Polly Segal, 55, and Elizabeth Segal, 59.