Roger Rees, Esteemed Stage And Screen Actor, Dies At 71

Welsh actor Roger Rees, known for his appearances on Cheers and The West Wing, died Friday night. He was 71.

Roger Rees Dies

Rees reportedly became ill earlier this year, and was forced to leave the production of Broadway musical The Visit in May in order to undergo a medical procedure. He passed away at his home in New York after a brief illness, reported CNN.

Starting in the 60s, Rees took to acting on the theater stage, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He went on to originate the title role in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. Rees won a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award for the performance.

Though Rees was primarily a theater actor during his career, he was best known to American audiences for playing Robin Colcord on Cheers and Lord John Marbury on The West Wing. He also appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Wife, Warehouse 13 and Elementary.

Rees’ film credits include Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Scorpion King, The Prestige, Frida, and most recently, Survivor with Pierce Brosnan.

Rees is survived by his husband Rick Elice.