The entertainment world has been rocked with the news of the passing of Charles Kimbrough, a Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor who is best-known for his role as Jim Dial, the straight-laced news anchor on the hit show “Murphy Brown.” Kimbrough passed away on January 11 in Culver City, California at the age of 86.
Kimbrough was a mainstay of the New York theater scene, with a Tony nomination in 1971 for his performance in Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company”. He also had a role in the Disney animated film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, lending his voice to the character of Victor, a gargoyle.
Kimbrough’s most famous role was as Jim Dial, the news anchor on “Murphy Brown”. He played the role for 10 seasons, from 1988 to 1998, and was nominated for an Emmy in 1990 for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. He reprised the role for the 2018 reboot of the show.
Kimbrough’s wife, Beth Howland, who played diner server Vera on the 1970s and ’80s CBS sitcom “Alice”, passed away in 2016. They married in 2002, more than a decade after his 1991 divorce from his first wife, Mary Jane (Wilson) Kimbrough, who passed away in 2007.
Kimbrough is survived by a sister, Linda Kimbrough, a son, John Kimbrough, a stepdaughter, Holly Howland, and a granddaughter, Cody.
The news of Kimbrough’s passing has been a shock to the entertainment world, and his memory will live on in the many roles he played. He was a joy to behold, both on stage and in front of the camera, and his legacy will be remembered for many years to come.
Source: www.nbcnews.com