Actor Rip Torn, of ‘Men in Black,’ ‘Larry Sanders Show’ fame, dead at 88

Rip Torn


Rip Torn attends the New York premiere of "Marie Antoinette." (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

Emmy Award-winning actor Rip Torn, who also earned Oscar and Tony nominations as well as winning two Obies, died Tuesday in Lakeville Conn., his representative told Variety.

He was 88 years old.

Born Elmore Rual Torn Jr., the Texan began his long career in 1956 with an uncredited appearance in “Baby Doll.”

Torn famously played opposite Garry Shandling as producer Artie, whose last named was never revealed, in “The Larry Sanders Show,” which ran from 1992 until 1998, and then made appearances on NBC’s “30 Rock.”

He also played the always straight-faced Zed in the first three Men in Black movies.