His love for acting knew no bounds and he brought joy and inspiration to countless audiences with every performance.
Whitehead has made numerous film and television appearances throughout his long career.
The “Friends,” “Frasier” and Broadway communities have lost a beloved member.
Paxton Whitehead, an English actor, and playwright whose career spanned nearly 70 years spanning a variety of roles in comedies and films, has died suddenly at the age of 85.
Whitehead’s son Charles confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that his father died on June 16 at a hospital in Arlington, Virginia.
Whitehead made his Broadway debut in 1962 in the production of “The Affair” and went on to appear in many other Broadway productions such as “The Harlequin Studies”, “My Fair Lady” and “The Crucifer of Blood”. In 1978, he received an honorary degree in art from Trent University and two years later was nominated for a Tony for his work in Camelot.
During his long career, Whitehead appeared in a number of films and television shows, including “Murder, She Wrote”, “Ellen”, “3rd Rock from the Sun”, “The Drew Carey Show”, and “And Mad About You”. “Frasier” and “Law & Order.” He also appeared in two episodes of “Friends” alongside Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Bloomingdale’s boss.
In his later years, Whitehead continued to play on Broadway and in local theaters; his last appearance was in 2014.
Shortly after his friend died, English actor Jim Piddock placed a monument to honor his memory.
On June 19, he tweeted the following: “Heartbroken to learn of the passing of my great friend and mentor Paxton Whitehead. He was a great actor, smart friend, and all around nice person. So many people respected him.” and never failed to make people laugh.
As the entertainment world mourns the loss of this talented actor, it also celebrates the indelible mark he left on the industry. Paxton Whitehead’s contribution to the world of theater and film will forever be remembered and his spirit will continue to inspire future generations of actors and artists.
In this time of loss, the acting community and fans around the world are coming together to remember Paxton Whitehead’s brilliance, his kindness, and the joy he brought to all. His legacy will continue to shine brightly, reminding us of the power of storytelling and the lasting impact of a great artist. May he rest in peace.