Ron Silver Biography

Ron Silver

After a series of minor roles in film in the 1970s, Silver won acclaim for his portrayal of Claus von Bulow's defense attorney in Reversal of Fortune (1990). He played opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in Blue Steel (1990) and appeared with Jerry Lewis in Wise Guy (1988). He won a Tony for his performance in David Mamet's play Speed-the-Plow (1988) and was familiar to TV viewers as Tommy Wilmette on Chicago Hope (1994–2000) and as Alec Bilson in Veronica's Closet (1997–2000). Other films include Rhapsody in Bloom (1998) and Ali (2001). Silver was an activist for causes such as environmentalism and artistic freedom. He lost his battle with cancer on March 15, 2009.