Since 2022 began, many famous names have passed away for a multitude of reasons.
Celebrity deaths in particular serve as an uncomfortable reminder that our time on the planet is finite. None of us will live forever. And none of us—no matter how rich, famous or talented—are immune to unfortunate circumstances.
Now Hollywood has lost another prolific character actor.
Richard Roat, a veteran TV actor best remembered for his roles in “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” and “Dallas,” has passed away at the age of 89 according to his obituary, he “passed away suddenly” after a nearly 50-year career in the entertainment industry.
Roat played various characters on television, in movies, and even on Broadway, with over 135 film roles to his name.
Roat made his film debut in 1962, playing the uncredited role of Garfield on the cop sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? “How Smart Can You Get?” episode “, which TV Guide ranked at No. 61 on its list of the best TV episodes of all time in 1997.
Notable roles include his portrayal of Al Beatty in an episode of Golden Girls in which he died after spending the night with Rose (Betty White). On the same show, he later played Kendall Nesbitt, a murder-mystery host.
Seinfeld, in which he played Dr. Berg, a doctor who writes “difficult” on Elaine’s chart, and Friends, in which he played Burt in “The One Where Ross Dates a Student,” a fellow professor at Ross’s university who reveals he will be fired if he dates a student. To name a few, he appeared in Days of Our Lives, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. His last role was in a 2009 episode of 24 titled “8:00–9:00.”
He and his wife, Kathy, had just recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary when he passed away.
His greatest love, according to his obituary, was his family, with whom he shared his incredible sense of humor, intelligence, and unmatched zest for life.
Watch the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n73MT5WJQZI
Sources: Thebeltwayreport, Foxnews, Variety