George Clooney Says Cousin Miguel Ferrer ‘Made the World Brighter and Funnier’

“NCIS: Los Angeles” and “Twin Peaks” actor died Thursday at 61

George Clooney
Getty Images

Shortly after news broke that “NCIS: Los Angeles” actor Miguel Ferrer died on Thursday at 61, his famous first cousin George Clooney released a heartfelt statement expressing his love for Ferrer, adding a nod to the presidential transition occurring at the same time.

“Today history will mark giant changes in our world, and lost to most will be that on the same day Miguel Ferrer lost his battle to throat cancer,” the politically conscious “Gravity” star said in a statement provided to TheWrap. “But not lost to his family. Miguel made the world brighter and funnier and his passing is felt so deeply in our family that events of the day (monumental  events) pale in comparison. We love you Miguel. We always will,” added Clooney.

The actor is related to Ferrer through his aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney, who married Puerto Rican actor José Ferrer. The younger Ferrer followed in his father’s footsteps, playing a younger version of his “Magnum P.I.” character in one of his first roles.

One of Ferrer’s signature film roles was as “RoboCop” designer Bob Morton in the 1987 action film. He also entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe playing the U.S. vice president in 2013’s “Iron Man 3.” He starred in numerous television series, such as “Twin Peaks,” “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “Crossing Jordan,” where he starred opposite Jill Hennessy for six seasons.

Unlike his Oscar-winning father, Ferrer never won an Academy Award. He was, however, nominated for a Grammy in 1999 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for “Simba’s Pride Read-Along” in Disney’s “The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride.”

“Twin Peaks” co-creator Mark Frost tweeted his condolences along with Ferrer’s “Crossing Jordan” co-star Jill Hennessy, among others:

Comments