American actor Michael Lerner, famous for his roles in Elf and Godzilla, has died aged 81.
His family confirmed the sad news with a statement, sharing a series of pictures of the movie star.
His nephew, Sam Lerner, wrote on Easter Sunday (April 9): ‘We lost a legend last night.
‘It’s hard to put into words how brilliant my uncle Michael was, and how influential he was to me.’
He continued: ‘His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting. He was the coolest, most confident, talented guy, and the fact that he was my blood will always make me feel special.
‘Everyone that knows him knows how insane he was — in the best way. I’m so lucky I got to spend so much time with him, and we’re all lucky we can continue to watch his work for the rest of time.’
He concluded: ‘RIP Michael, enjoy your unlimited Cuban cigars, comfy chairs, and endless movie marathon ????’
The exact circumstances surrounding his death are unclear.
The post was met with a wealth of love and condolences, with Logan Miller commenting: ‘Absolute legend. Sorry for your loss my friend.’
Olivia Sui wrote: ‘❤️ Legend’.
Lerner was probably best known for starring in the festive 2003 Will Ferrell comedy.
He played James Caan’s no-nonsense boss, Mr. Greenway, who was demanding a grade-A children’s book.
His other acting credits included projects such as Blank Check, Newsies, Harlem Nights, and For Richer or Poorer.
He also starred in The Mod Squad, Celebrity, and A Serious Man, having kickstarted his career in the 1970s.
Following his role in 1991’s Barton Fink, Lerner was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor.
Some of his more recent work included Senator Brickman in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014.
Lerner is survived by his famous brother, Ken.
He also had a wife,
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