George Segal, best known for playing Albert “Pops” Solomon on The Goldbergs, has passed away on Tuesday at the age of 87.
His wife, Sonia Segal, confirmed the news in a statement. She said, “The family is devastated to announce that this morning George Segal passed away due to complications from bypass surgery.”
Ane Hock, Segal’s manager and best friend, said in a statement, “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.”
Segal became popular in the 1960s and 1970s for playing dramatic and comedic roles. He played key roles in films such as Ship of Fools, King Rat, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, The Hot Rock, Blume in Love, among others.
Actor Adam Goldberg tweeted, “Today we lost a legend. It was a true honor being a small part of George Segal’s amazing legacy. By pure fate, I ended up casting the perfect person to play Pops. Just like my grandfather, George was a kid at heart with a magical spark. I think these memories say it all…”
Segal was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He won two Golden Globe Awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance in A Touch of Class.
He was also best known for his role as Jack Gallo on Just Shoot Me!
Actress Morgan Fairchild wrote on Twitter, “So sorry to hear of the passing of the wonderful George Segal! We did The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood together & I guested on Just Shoot Me. One of a kind and always a joy! #RIPGeorge #RIPGeorgeSegal.”
Segal was married three times. In 1956, he married film editor Marion Segal Freed and they were together for 26 years until their divorce in 1983. They have two daughters. Segal was married to Linda Rogoff from 1983 until her death in 1996. He married his former George School boarding school classmate Sonia Schultz Greenbaum in 1996.
