Peter Boyle dies at 71

Dec 14, 2006 by Ian Evans

Peter Boyle, who most recently delighted audiences with his role of the grumpy dad on Everybody Loves Raymond, has died at the age of 71. According to his publicist, Boyle passed away Tuesday evening at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He had multiple myeloma and heart disease.

In a statement, actor Ray Romano said that, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Peter Boyle. He gave me great advice, he always made me laugh, and the way he connected with everyone around him amazed me. The fact that he could play a convincing curmudgeon on the show, but in reality be such a compassionate and thoughtful person, is a true testament to his talent.” Doris Roberts, who played Boyle’s wife on the hit show said, “It’s like losing a spouse.”

Boyle, whose friend John Lennon served as his best man, first came to the attention of moviegoers when he played a murderous bigot in 1970’s Joe.

He played Robert Redford’s campaign manager in The Candidate and Gene Wilder’s monster in 1974’s comedy classic Young Frankenstein. He was also Robert De Niro’s mentor in the 1976 classic Taxi Driver, where he played the cabbie-philosopher Wizard.