Variety reports that actor Ron Silver died Sunday at the age of 62 following a two-year battle with esophageal cancer.

Silver is an Emmy nominee for his recurring role on “The West Wing” and has a long history of balancing acting with left-leaning social and political causes.

He also won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet’s original production of “Speed-the-Plow” in 1988.

Silver’s big-screen credits include Ali, Reversal of Fortune, Enemies: A Love Story, Silkwood, Semi-Tough and most recently The Ten and Find Me Guilty. He also narrated 2004’s Fahrenhype 9/11, which deconstructed Michael Moore’s anti-Bush documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.

Besides “The West Wing,” Silver was a regular or had recurring roles on such TV shows as “Veronica’s Closet”, “Chicago Hope” and “Wiseguy”. He directed and costarred in the 1993 made-for-TV movie Lifepod.

Silver is survived by a son, Adam, and daughter, Alexandra, whom he had with ex-wife Lynne Miller.

By Tessa Petrocco (Source:Variety)