Remembering Ron Silver

There was some sad news in the world of entertainment today…

Ron Silver died yesterday of cancer at the age of 62.

Silver was brilliant as a Republican campaign strategist in the final season of “The West Wing.” But when I think of Silver, I will always think of my beloved “Skin,” the brilliant gone-too-soon 2003 FOX drama.

“Skin” was a contemporary retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” starring Olivia Wilde and D.J. Cotrona. Wilde played the daughter of a porn king, while Cotrona was the son of the District Attorney determined to bring her father down.

Silver played Larry Goldman, the porn king with the heart of gold. One minute he was casting innocent farm girls in his movies, the next he was donating millions of dollars to a children’s hospital. Silver was brilliant, and if the show had lasted a full season he would have no doubt received an Emmy nod for his work.

But “Skin” only lasted three episodes, despite FOX’s constant promotion of it during the World Series. Of course, if those promos had focused a little less on the love story and a little more on the drama surrounding Goldman’s porn business, it probably would have lasted a little longer.

It’s been over five years and it still upsets me…

Here’s Silver being brilliant in a scene from the show alongside Wilde and Pamela Gidley. He will be missed…