Charles Kimbrough has long been known for his acting abilities in a variety of fields, from cinema to stage and video games, and perhaps it was on television that he left his biggest mark. Unfortunately, it is reported that the great Murphy Brown is dead, and his son reported that he passed away earlier in 2023, at the age of 86.
John Kimbrough, the actor’s son from his marriage to Mary Jane Wilson, confirmed the death of the sitcom star to the New York Times, saying that he died on Wednesday, January 11. The younger Kimbrough, who led the ’90s alternative rock band Walt Mink, said he passed in Culver City, California. The cause of death is not reported.
Despite the fact that Murphy Brown was named after chief journalist Candice Bergen, the CBS sitcom had an equally talented cast, and the stoic and unwavering Jim Dial Kimbrough was the link holding the chaos together for the fictional series FYI. He held the role with squinted aplomb throughout the decade of Murphy Brown’s first run, earning his only Emmy Award nomination for the role in 1990.
Although he had largely retired from the game by the time CBS revived Murphy Brown for the fall 2018 TV season, Kimbrough agreed to return to reprise the role of Jim Dial in three episodes along with several other former co-stars. Unfortunately for those who hoped that Jim would continue his show on the small screen, the network canceled the show after one season.
Take a moment to honor the actor with a music video from the second season of Murphy Brown.
Jim Dial, of course, was hardly the epitome of Kimbrough’s entire career and talents. Born on May 23, 1936, the St. Paul native made a name for himself in the 1960s and 1970s on the theater stage, receiving a Tony nomination in 1971 for Best Actor in the Stephen Sondheim Troupe. He has also been cast in many other Broadway and off-Broadway projects, from Candide to Sunday in the Park with George to the Merchant of Venice, Troilus and Cressida, and then some others. Most recently, he was featured in the 2012 revival of Harvey.
Disney fanatics are no doubt used to hearing this actor, since Kimbrough voiced the role of Victor in two films “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, as well as in four video games, including two releases of Kingdom Hearts. He also voiced Buzz Lightyear films from Star Command: The Adventure Begins and Recess: School’s Out, and his voice acting has also been featured in episodes of Batman Beyond, Mighty Max, Pinky and the Brain, Dinosaurs and The Angry Beavers. .
A few years before his retirement, Charles Kimbrough starred in television roles in the films “Ally McBeal” and “Project Zeta”, and “Marcy X” in 2003 became his last film role after his appearance in the film “Wedding Commotion” in 2001.
Charles Kimbrough is survived by the aforementioned only son John, as well as sister Linda Kimbrough and stepdaughter Holly Howland, whose mother Beth Howland died in 2015 while still married to the actor. He was preceded in death by other prominent Murphy Brown members Jay Thomas (Jerry Gold), who passed away in 2017, and Pat Corley (Phil), who died in 2006.
We at CinemaBlend express our thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of Charles Kimbrough during their mourning.
