On Sunday, November 1, Fred D. Thompson, a former United States senator for Tennessee and Law and Order actor and Republican presidential candidate died at age 73.
He sufferred a recurrence of Lymphoma, which is any group of blood cell tumors that develop from lymphatic cells.
The name Lymphoma often refers to just the cancerous ones rather than all such tumors. Enlarged lymph nodes, fever, drenching sweat, weight loss, itching, and feeling tired, are symptoms of the disease.The sweats are most common at night and the enlarged lymph nodes are usually painless.
Fred’s family made sure that his fans were reminded of what a wonderful man he was as they announced his sad passing.
In a statement made by his family, they said “Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio or the town square of Lawrenceburg, his home.''
Mr. Thompson moved back and forth between national politics and mass-market entertainment, quite an unusual career indeed!
In 2008, he left a regular role on the hit NBC drama “Law & Order” to run for president.
Born in Alabama, Thompson first got married at the age of 17 and studied law. While practicing law he helped press the investigation that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
He served as chief Republican counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee that investigated Nixon.
It was Thompson who asked White House aide Alexander Butterfield about the existence of tapes made of Oval Office conversations during a televised hearing.
The said tapes eventually lead to Nixon's resignation.Thompson worked as a lawyer and lobbyist in Nashville and Washington D.C. after Westgate.
Known for his straight-talking style and booming voice, the former senator appeared in films such as The Hunt for Red October and Cape Fear.
Wiseguy, Matlock, The Good Wife and most recently, NBC’s short-lived Allegiance, are included as his additional TV credits.
He appeared in Die Hard 2 (as the chief air traffic controller McClane at first butts heads with) on the big screen.
Thompson has five children, three from his first marriage with Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey and two from his now widow Jeri Kehn Thompson. He also has several grandchildren.