An Emmy- and Tony-winning actor who was the national president of the entertainment guild SAG-AFTRA has died. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ken Howard died today at his home in Los Angeles. He was 71.
Howard may be best-known as high school basketball coach and former Chicago Bulls player Ken Reeves on the drama series “The White Shadow,” which ran on CBS from 1978-1981. He also played Thomas Jefferson in the movie “1776” and won a Tony Award for his work on the stage in “Child’s Play.”
Howard won a Primetime Emmy in 2009 for his supporting role on “Grey Gardens.” More recently he had a recurring role on NBC’s “Thirty Rock,” where he played Kabletown boss Hank Hooper.
THR notes that a rep for Howard denied rumors back in January that he was gravely ill.
Howard had been president of SAG-AFTRA since 2009.
Here’s Howard accepting his Primetime Emmy for “Grey Gardens” …
to me he will always be the WHITE SHADOW!!!