James Lipton death: Barbra Streisand, Mark Ruffalo lead tributes to Inside the Actors Studio host

People have been naming their favourite episodes following news of his passing

Hollywood stars are paying tribute to Inside the Actors Studio host James Lipton, who has died aged 93.

Lipton, who died from bladder cancer, launched the popular series in 1994 with an episode featuring Paul Newman.

Over the years, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg and Barbra Streisand all appeared on the series.

“His work was his passion,” Lipton’s wife Kedakai Mercedes Lipton told The Hollywood Reporter.

“He loved what he did and all the people he worked with. He empowered people to do their best, and hopefully his spirit, curiosity and passion will live on.”

Following the announcement of his death, numerous Hollywood figures paid tribute to the TV personality.

Streisand praised Lipton for “being interested in the actor’s process, which was so refreshing”.

“Thank you for some of the greatest actor and actress interviews,” Mark Ruffalo wrote.

Film director Judd Apatow added: “I studied so many episodes of Inside the Actors Studio over the years. He was a wonderful interviewer and loved doing his show so much.”

He said Lipton was a big fan of Will Ferrell’s Saturday Night Live impersonation of him and named the Gene Wilder episode as his favourite.

Many others have been naming their favourite interviews of Lipton’s, with several mentions going to Dave Chappelle and Robin Williams.

Lipton is also remembered for his role in comedy series Arrested Development, in which he played Warden Stefan Gentles.