West Wing star and Republican activist Ron Silver died Sunday at the age of 62 from esophageal cancer.
Emmy-nominee Silver had been known as a left-wing supporter until the 2001 terrorist attacks when he gave his backing to President George W Bush for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Friends told The National Enquirer Silver’s move to the political right lost him work in Hollywood.
Dallas Morning News columnist Rod Dreher, who also writes for BeliefNet.com, told The ENQUIRER: “In a culture as politically correct and unforgiving as Hollywood’s, taking the position Ron Silver did on the necessity to fight against Islamist terror requires uncommon courage.
“He risked not only his reputation, but friendships and indeed his career, which suffered because of his activism. I came to disagree with him on the Iraq war, but Ron had more guts than a thousand Hollywood liberals who congratulate themselves on their so-called bravery for taking stands that cost them exactly nothing.”
Best-selling author Ann Coulter told The ENQUIRER: "I know Ron was brave because he was never showered with magazine covers, tributes and encomiums for his "bravery" the way the Dixie Chicks, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins etc are — for bravely opposing Bush in Hollywood. Ron was a great man. He didn’t need to be called "courageous" by airheads before deciding what his position was."
Silver, who played political strategist Bruno Gianelli on The West Wing, spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention and described himself as a “9/11 Republican”.
He told the delegates: “Under the unwavering leadership of President Bush, the cause of freedom and democracy is being advanced by the courageous men and women serving in our armed services.
“The President is doing exactly the right thing. That is why we need this President at this time.”
Silver, who died in his native New York City, leaves ex-wife Lynne Miller and a son and daughter.
