Ron Masak dead: Character actor and ‘Murder, She Wrote’ star was 86

The Chicago native died from pure causes on Thursday.

“Homicide, She Wrote” star Ron Masak has died on the age of 86.

His granddaughter Kaylie Defilippis confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday that he died from pure causes at a hospital in Thousand Oaks, California.

Masak was surrounded by his spouse, Kay, and his kids on the time of his loss of life.

The character actor appeared in a plethora of roles on TV and within the films.

The Chicago native was finest recognized for portraying Sheriff Mort Metzger on “Homicide, She Wrote,” in addition to incomes the moniker “King of Commercials.”

He joined the present in 1985 and acted in about 41 episodes till its finale in 1996.

For 15 years, he represented Vlasic pickles, voicing the product’s icon — an animated stork. Different voice-over work included doing spots for firms comparable to Rice-A-Roni and Glad sandwich luggage.

Ron Masak in a 1970 episode of “Bewitched.”

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Within the Sixties and the ’70s, Masak made visitor appearances on iconic sequence comparable to “The Twilight Zone,” “The Monkees,” “Get Good,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Bewitched,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Present,” “Police Story” and “Surprise Girl.”

In 1968, Masak made his movie debut within the Rock Hudson image “Ice Station Zebra.” His different movie tasks included starring with George Hamilton in “Evel Knievel” in 1971.

Ron Masak attends the forty fourth annual Los Angeles Police Memorial Basis Celeb Golf Match on Could 21, 2016, in California.

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His different film roles included “Second Effort,” “A Time for Dying,” “Laserblast,” “The Benchwarmers” and “Angels on Faucet.”

Apart from being a display icon, Masak was concerned in charity organizations such because the Wounded Warrior Mission, Childhelp, and the Susan G. Komen breast most cancers basis. He additionally hosted Jerry Lewis’ Muscular Dystrophy Affiliation fundraising telethons from Los Angeles a number of instances. 

Ron Masak (from left), Joyce Bulifant and Janet MacLachlan appeared within the ABC sequence “Love Thy Neighbor” episode “The Marriage You Save Could Be Your Personal,” from 1973.

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Masak was additionally an writer, penning his 2009 memoir, “I’ve Met All My Heroes From A to Z.” The ebook described his recollections of inspirational folks he had met over the course of his lengthy profession.

He was born in Chicago in 1936 and is survived by his spouse, six kids and 10 grandchildren.

His “Homicide, She Wrote” co-star Angela Lansbury additionally handed away just lately, dying on the age of 96 earlier this month.