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'He was a class act!': Charles Kimbrough who played Jim Dial in 'Murphy Brown' dies at 86

Charles Kimbrough was a regular on 'Murphy Brown', appearing on all 247 episodes from 1988 to 1998

CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA: Emmy-nominated actor Charles Kimbrough died at the age of 86. The actor's son John Kimbrough confirmed his death on January 11. Charles Kimbrough was an outstanding actor with a record-breaking acting career history. 

He is famously known for his role as anchorman Jim Dial in the hit series 'Murphy Brown'. He even received an Emmy nomination for his role in the popular series. The 86-year-old died of natural causes in a hospital in Culver City, revealed John Kimbrough, according to The New York Times. 

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Charles Kimbrough's prolific acting career

Charles Kimbrough starred alongside Candice Bergen, an investigative journalist on the hit TV series, 'Murphy Brown'. The actor was a regular on the show appearing on all 247 episodes from 1988 to 1998. He also starred in several episodes after the revival of the show nearly two decades later, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A critically-acclaimed actor also received an Emmy nomination for his role as Tony for Steven Sondheim's Company. He also starred in 'Sunday in the Park With George', a Sondheim musical. The famed actor was also the voice of a gargoyle named Victor in 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' from 1996 and its 2002 sequel and including its scores of video-game iterations, according to Deadline.

The Minnesota native also starred in the off-Broadway comedy Sylvia alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in 1995. He also appeared in numerous stage shows such as his role in Candide, Hay Fever, The Merchant of Venice, and Harvey. He is known as a typecast for playing rigid roles throughout his splendid acting career. Charles Kimbrough spoke about it with the Wall Street Journal in 2012, "I somehow gave off an impression at an audition that had them mentally put me in a three-piece suit or put an attaché case in my hand. If there was a stiff-guy part, the director would brighten up when I came in. That wasn’t the response I wanted. I was in anguish."

'Rest easy!'

Internet users were heartbroken after learning of his demise. One user wrote on Twitter, "RIP Charles Kimbrough" Another praised his work writing, "RIP Charles Kimbrough, 86. Like Melinda Dillon, he was famous for a key role later in his career (Jim Dial on "Murphy Brown") but had huge Broadway success early on ("Company"). http://bit.ly/3jrYIkh Also ... commercials!" "I’m just learning of the death of Charles Kimbrough. We did TARTUFFE together in Shakespeare in the Park. He was the most expressive, inventive, fastidious actor I have ever met. More importantly one of the kindest people I have ever known. I learned so much from him. RIP," a tweet read. "R.I.P. to actor Charles Kimbrough of “Murphy Brown” fame. We learned today he passed away January 11th at the age of 86. He earned an Emmy nomination for the show and, two decades earlier, he got a Tony nomination for the Broadway musical, “Company.” He was a class act," a user remarked. A fifth tweeted, "Murphy Brown" was indeed comedy gold. Rest easy, Jim Dial." "Yes he was a total class act. I worked with him many times. May his memories be a blessing," a user commented. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.