If you were a fan of the hit sitcom Murphy Brown, we have some terrible news to share. The lead actor in the show who played the role of Jim Dial, actor Charles Kimbrough, has passed away at the age of eighty-six. The sitcom role earned Kimbrough a Primetime Emmy nomination back in 1990 as well as a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination in 1995 and a TV Land Awards nomination in 2008, ensuring his legacy as a content creator.
Although Murphy Brown was the most memorable show Charle Kimbrough was cast in, it was directly in the middle of his career. He had a lot of roles before playing Jim Dial on Murphy Brown, and he also had a lot of acting work following the end of the show’s run. Kimbrough’s first role was in 1988 on Another World. His last role was the reboot of Murphy Brown in 2018. In addition to his work on Murphy Brown, Kimbrough also played prominent roles in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame II,” and “The Wedding Planner.”
Now, Kimbrough’s acting career has come to an end. His son, Jim Kimbrough, confirmed the actor’s death to Deadline. Jim confirmed that his father passed away in Culver City, California on January 11, 2023. At the time of his death, Kimbrough was eighty-six years old. The cause of the actor’s death was not released to the public and could have been any number of things for an elderly man like the actor.
Kimbrough’s talent agency, SMS Talent, Inc., released a statement following the actor’s death. They wrote, “Whether on stage or in front of the camera, he was a joy to behold.” The talent agency added that Kimbrough died at the hospital of what were reputably natural causes for a man of his age.
Kimbrough’s first and second wives both died before he did. He divorced his first wife, Mary Jane (Wilson) Kimbrough in 1991 around the time he began having huge success on Murphy Brown. She died in 2007.
More than a decade after his first divorce, Kimbrough remarried. His second wife was Beth Howland. She passed away in 2016.
Kimbrough is survived by his sister, Linda Kimbrough, his son, John Kimbrough, his stepdaughter, Holly Howland, and his granddaughter, Cody, according to Tip Hero.
Prior to his Hollywood success, Kimbrough was a busy stage actor. All the way back in 1971, he received a Tony award nomination for his role in the Stephen Sondheim musical “Company.”
Social media users flooded Twitter with tributes to Charles Kimbrough. The following were a few quotes from distraught fans.
“I’m just learning of the death of Charles Kimbrough. We did TARTUFFE together in Shakespeare in the Park. He was the most expressive, inventive, fastidious actor I have ever met. More importantly one of the kindest people I have ever known. I learned so much from him. RIP.”
“In case anyone doesn’t realize it, the late Charles Kimbrough of “Murphy Brown” was married to the late Beth Howland of ‘Alice!’ Sitcom dream couple.”