Stephen Lee, ‘Seinfeld’ Actor, Dies, Suffers Heart Attack
A Seinfeld actor died suddenly this month, but the news wasn’t released publicly until now. Stephen Lee passed away two weeks ago in California. His cause of death is said to be due to a heart attack. Lee was 58.
Lee died in his Los Angeles apartment on August 14, according to a Hollywood Reporter celebrity news report. His friend, actress Lisa Pescia, delivered the news of the Seinfeld actor’s untimely death. Pescia is an actress/director with films such as Body Chemistry, Sweet Union and Voice of a Stranger, to name a few.
According to his IMDb bio, Lee starred in over 200 films such as The Negotiator (1998), Burlesque (2010), La Bamba (Big Bopper), WarGames (1983), RoboCop 2 (1990), and many others.
Other than appearing on a Seinfeld episode in 1997, in which he starred as a chatty kitchen cabinet installer, Stephen Lee starred in a number of notable television roles. Many fans remember the late actor from his time on CBS’ Nash Bridges, where he played Tony B., a police snitch and local mobster.
Other TV credits include: Grey’s Anatomy, Scarecrow, Who’s the Boss?, Everybody Loves Raymond, Cybill, Murder One, Quantum Leap, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Bones, NCIS, Hill Street Blues, Family Ties, Hart to Hart and Roseanne.
The Seinfeld actor’s death comes on the heels of other notable and recent celebrity deaths. Lauren Bacall, an ex-wife of the late Humphrey Bogart, who was known for her husky voice and sultry demeanor, died August 12 at 89 from a stroke. Beloved poet Maya Angelou passed away in May after being in poor health. James Garner (The Rockford Files and Maverick) died in March at 86 from “natural causes.” Child actress and activist Shirley Temple died in February from COPD complications. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote, Death of a Salesman, Moneyball, The Ides of March, Law & Order) died in February at 46, reportedly, from acute drug mixture intoxication. However, the most shocking recent celebrity death is Robin Williams. The veteran actor-comedian took his life in August. He was 63.
Lee never made his mark on the A-lister landscape. However, those that knew him say he left lasting impressions on the roles he starred in. The Nash Bridges and Seinfeld actor, in his personal life, was described as thoughtful and a good person to keep company with. He will be missed.
Stephen Lee hails from Englewood, New Jersey. Sources say he lived in Europe for the first 15 years of his life, and was fluent in German.
[Image via Bing]
