NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former senator and actor Fred Thompson has died at 73, according to a family statement given to the Associated Press.
The AP reported the cause of death was lymphoma.
Thompson represented Tennessee in the U.S. Senate from 1994 to 2003. Prior to his time in Congress, he worked as a lawyer, most notably serving as legal counsel in the Watergate hearings. In 2007, he launched a campaign for the 2008 presidential election but was unsuccessful in receiving the Republican nomination.
Thompson also appeared as an actor in numerous films and the TV show Law & Order.
He received his Bachelor’s degree from Memphis State University in 1964.
Tennessee politicians reflected on the news of Thompson’s passing.
“Very few people can light up the room the way Fred Thompson did,” Sen. Lamar Alexander said in a statement. “He used his magic as a lawyer, actor, Watergate counsel, and United States senator to become one of our country’s most principled and effective public servants. He was my friend for nearly fifty years. I will miss him greatly.”
Sen. Bob Corker echoed those sentiments. “From the courtroom to Capitol Hill to Hollywood, his larger than life personality was infectious and had a way of making all of those around him strive to be better,” he said. “Through his many different roles in public life, Fred never forgot where he came from, and our state and country miss his common sense approach to public service.”
“This is a sad moment for all of us as our state has lost a larger-than-life figure,” Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Ryan Haynes added. “His quick wit, his hospitality, and his conservative beliefs reflected the best attributes of Tennessee. Senator Thompson was a statesman in every sense of the word. He will be missed as much for his friendship as he will for his leadership.”
“Tennessee has lost a great statesman,” Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell Jr. said. “Senator Fred Thompson’s unique talents to represent the needs of citizens, coupled with his notoriety as an acclaimed actor, gave Tennesseans a real sense of pride to call him one of our own.”
Rep. Steve Cohen also has fond memories of Thompson. “I was present when the National Conference of State Legislatures awarded him the Restoring the Balance Award for his dedication to federalism. For Fred, it was not a political or campaign issue, it was his philosophy,” he said. “Despite our political differences, Fred was always encouraging to me and I valued our friendship. He led an eclectic life from his time as an outstanding congressional staffer during the Watergate hearings and as a fine attorney, actor, and public servant. His was a life very well lived.”