Edward Herrmann, the actor best known for playing Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, passed away at the age of 71 on Wednesday. The Emmy-nominated actor, who had been battling brain cancer, died in the intensive care unit of a New York City hospital after his family decided to take him off a respirator following weeks without improvement in his health. Herrmann left behind a wife, two daughters, and a stepson. “My friend Ed Herrmann was the kindest, classiest, most talented man. It was an honor and a joy to know him, a devastating blow to lose him,” tweeted Lauren Graham, who played his daughter on Gilmore Girls for seven seasons.