Stars Hollow has lost a family member. Noted stage and screen actor Edward Herrmann, best known for playing Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, has died at 71, TMZ reports.

The star’s family tells TMZ that the actor had been battling brain cancer and had been in ICU at a New York hospital for over three weeks. His loved ones ultimately decided to take him off a respirator on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

The Washington native starred alongside Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, and his TV wife Kelly Bishop on the comedy drama from 2000 to 2007. Bishop visited her former costar in the hospital on Tuesday.

“We, the Gilmore Girls family, are so terribly sad and somewhat stunned. We only learned about his illness a week or so ago. I got a call from [Edward’s wife] Star Monday night asking if I wanted to come to the hospital to say good-bye,” the actress told TVLine. “I went yesterday and was able to give Ed love from Lauren, Alexis and [creator] Amy [Sherman-Palladino]…I have so many fond memories of our time together on Gilmore Girls and since, mainly via email. I think everyone who knew or worked with Ed found him to be absolutely delightful. Everything looks a little dim, as if the lights went down.”

Graham, too, paid tribute to Herrmann on Twitter.

My friend Ed Herrmann was the kindest, classiest, most talented man. It was an honor and a joy to know him, a devastating blow to lose him. — Lauren Graham (@thelaurengraham) December 31, 2014

Some of Herrmann’s other career highlights include winning the Tony Award for Best Actor for his work on Broadway’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession in 1976. He also played President Franklin Roosevelt three times: in Eleanor and Franklin (1976), Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977) and the original musical film Annie (1982).

In more recent years, Herrmann made guest appearances on TV shows such as Law & Order, Harry’s Law, and The Good Wife. He recently wrapped the film Coach of the Year, which is set for a 2015 release.

Herrmann is survived by his wife Star Benson and the couple’s two children. He also has three other children, whom he shared with his first ex-wife, actress-writer Leigh Curran.