Remembering Michael Lerner, the Actor from Elf and Barton Fink

Michael Lerner, the well-known character actor who earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as film studio executive Jack Lipnick in the Coen brothers’ Barton Fink, has passed away at the age of 81. The announcement was made by his nephew, actor Sam Lerner, through social media on Sunday.

Sam shared a heartfelt tribute to his uncle, calling him a legend and highlighting his brilliance and influence in the industry. “His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting. He was the coolest, most confident, talented guy, and the fact that he was my blood will always make me feel special,” Sam wrote.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1941, Lerner started his acting career as a student at Brooklyn College before earning a Fulbright Scholarship to study theater at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He then moved to San Francisco to join the American Conservatory Theatre and was later discovered by an agent who brought him to Los Angeles.

Lerner’s career spanned several decades, and he appeared in numerous classic TV shows such as The Brady Bunch, The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues, and MAS*H. His film debut came in 1970 with Alex In Wonderland, and he eventually became known for his supporting roles in movies such as Eddie Murphy’s Harlem Nights and Elf, and of course, his critically acclaimed role in Barton Fink.

“I read the script, and you just know good writing. It was brilliantly written, and I just knew it,” Lerner said of his decision to take the part in Barton Fink. “I did the monologue the way I wanted to do it and I just walked of the room, and that was it. And Joel and Ethan were just sitting in a corner just laughing and laughing, and that was it.”

In his later years, Lerner appeared in films such as Mirror Mirror and X-Men: Days Of Future Past, as well as a guest spot on Glee as an investor for a Broadway revival of the musical Funny Girl. He was a talented actor who made a significant impact on the industry and will be deeply missed by his fans and colleagues alike.