Stars we lost in 2021: George Segal, pops from 'The Goldbergs'

On March 23, 2021, George Segal died from unexpected complications during heart surgery. He was 87 years old. The actor was well-known as 'Pops' in 'The Goldbergs,' but he had a prolific career in movie and TV comedy from the 1960s to the present.

George Segal was one of those Hollywood faces that the public will recognize from various leading and supporting roles - often without directly remembering their name. He was a big star among comedy fans and peers, though, and they will always remember the actor and his classic roles.

George Segal was nominated for an Oscar in 1966 for his work in 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' - a theatrical classic whose film adaptation starred Liz Taylor and Richard Burton as a couple descending into complete disintegration.

The infamous duo causes a train wreck with another married couple, played by George Segal and Sandy Dennis. The Academy awarded Liz Taylor and Sandy Dennis with an Oscar, while Richard Burton and George Segal were nominated for the award.

Another important role by George Segal was the one that led him to work with Barbra Streisand in 1970. Streisand remembered her co-star on Twitter: "So sorry to hear about George Segal‘s passing. We had such fun making Owl and the Pussycat."

In the 1970s, George Segal was a star of the first order. He won the Golden Globe for his role in the British romantic comedy 'A Touch of Class' (1973). Another well-known comedy from his hand, together with Jane Fonda, was 'Fun with D**k and Jane, in 1977.

Ben Stiller remembered the actor on the day his death was announced: "My personal favorite George Segal movie is 'The Hot Rock'. What a career. What a nice man, what an iconic cool funny 70’s movie star." Here we see a scene from 'The Hot Rock' with Segal and Robert Redford.

The spotlights of the 60s and 70s faded somewhat in the 1980s, but George Segal was always at work, for example in movies like 'Look Who's Talking' with John Travolta and Kirstie Alley (1989).

In the 90s came 'Just Shoot Me!' - a popular sitcom in which George Segal showcased his comedic talent in the role of a magazine owner who has an obsessive rivalry with Donald Trump.

George Segal joined the TV sitcom star-system as a veteran and did it successfully. He was nominated twice for a Golden Globe, and 'Just Shoot Me!' ran successfully for six years.

Co-star David Spade, who rose to widespread fame with 'Just Shoot Me!', described George Segal as "legendary" in response to his passing. "Rough news," he tweeted.

Comedy actor Brian Posehn tweeted an image of a 'Just Shoot Me!' scene with Segal and Spade, lamenting: "Aww man, not George. I grew up watching him, total old school charm, effortless comedic timing. Doing scenes with him was one of the highlights of my life, but getting to know him a little and making the legend laugh was even cooler. I’ll miss you, sir."

Ten years after 'Just Shoot Me' there was another hit series for the veteran actor. In 2013, ABC premiered 'The Goldbergs,' a humorous family portrait in which George Segal played a very wild grandfather.

'The Goldbergs' ran for eight seasons. According to The Sun, "the final episode the legendary star was able to film before his passing is set to air on April 7." On the night of that final episode, the Goldberg family remembered Pops' finest moments in a special tribute.

George Segal was a legend in the history of cinema and TV. He got his star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame when he was 83 years old, in 2017.

Bob Saget, another central figure in the American comedy world, tweeted a photo and tribute to his comedic role model. "So sad about the loss of George Segal," he wrote. "I grew up loving his films, from 'Where’s Poppa?' to Sidney Lumet’s 'Bye Bye Braverman,' to 'The Hot Rock.' I got to work with him several times." About the photo he says: "This was last year at lunch," before closing with: "My deep sympathies to his family and friends."

George Segal was a star whose mimics, laughs, and comedic style accompanied audiences for decades in series and films. He truly was a Hollywood icon.

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