Edward Herrmann dead: Gilmore Girls and FDR actor dies aged 71

The actor died in hospital surrounded by his family in New York

Actor Edward Herrmann has died at the age of 71 (Getty Images)

Actor Edward Herrmann has died of brain cancer at the age of 71.

Herrmann, who is best-known for portraying Franklin D Roosevelt in the Seventies and more recently for his turn in TV series Gilmore Girls, died in hospital surrounded by his family in New York.

His manager Robbie Kass said in a statement: “Besides being an accomplished actor, [Herrmann] was also a true gentleman and a scholar, as well as being incredibly kind and decent man. He will be sorely missed.”

The 6 foot 5 actor won a Primetime Emmy in 1999 for his performance as a guest actor in the Boston-based legal series The Practice.

But he is perhaps best known for portraying President FDR in TV movies Eleanor and Franklin and Eleanor and Franklin: The Whitehouse Years in 1976 and 1977.

He also won a Tony Award in 1976 for a revival of Mrs Warren’s Profession, which he starred in opposite Lynn Redgrave.

His other Broadway credits included the original run of Love Letters in 1989, The Deep Blue Sea with Blythe Danner in 1998 and Plenty, for which he received a 1983 Tony nomination.

He often appeared on the big screen in major films including The Wolf of Wall Street and Reds, and also starred in the original Annie musical movie as FDR.

Paying tribute to his father, Herrmann's son Rory said: “He was full of knowledge and kindness and goodness…He always wanted to share the great and beautiful things in life.”