Actor Ron Glass, perhaps best known for playing Detective Ron Harris in the mid-1970s sitcom Barney Miller and Shepherd Derrial Book in the early-2000s science fiction series Firefly, has died from unspecified illnesses.
Glass was a longtime television actor, whose career playing complex characters spanned decades and brought him critical acclaim. He was born in Evansville, Indiana in 1945, and made his television debut in 1973 with a guest spot on All in the Family.
His work as Ron Harris in Barney Miller, however, cemented his place in Hollywood. After the show ended, he went on to guest star in television shows and movies (including a stint as Ross' divorce lawyer on Friends) becoming one of the most beloved recurring characters on the cult series Firefly and the related movie, Serenity:
"Shepard, don't move."
"Won't go far."
We love you, Ron Glass. Don't go far. https://t.co/BAzpzTBLLv— Nathan Fillion (@NathanFillion) November 26, 2016
Glass was also active in the California Buddhist community. He was 71.