Friends star Paxton Whitehead dies aged 85

Tributes have poured in for the actor who starred alongside Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer.

Friends star Paxton Whitehead has died

Friends and Frasier star Paxton Whitehead has died aged 85.

The prolific actor’s son Charles confirmed his death on Friday at a hospital in Arlington, Virginia, to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor appeared alongside Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer in the beloved sitcom, Friends, where fans will remember his role as Rachel’s Bloomingdale boss, Mr Waltham.

He also played the role of Hal Conway in Mad About You.

Friends star Paxton Whitehead has died

On television, he also made appearances on Murder, She Wrote, Law and Order, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and in 2007, played the father of Susan Mayer’s fiance Ian in Desperate Housewives.

The English actor was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his stage performance as Pellinore in 1980 revival of Camelot.

Many of Whitehead’s friends and family have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late actor.

Actor Dana Ivey wrote: “We first worked together in My Fair Lady in 1964, and the last time was in Importance of Being Earnest in 2010 — friends for 59 years. I loved him so. Heartbroken.”

English actor Jim Piddock also paid tribute, tweeting: “Heartbroken to hear my dear friend and mentor Paxton Whitehead has passed away. He was an extraordinary actor, a brilliant friend, and truly wonderful human being.

“He meant so much to so many people and always brought a smile to the faces of everyone he encountered.”

Whitehead performed several times on Broadway, in productions such as My Fair Lady with Richard Chamberlain and The Importance of Being Earnest.

He also famously starred as Sherlock Holmes The Crucifer of Blood in 1978 and 1979, which ran for 236 performances at the Helen Hayes Theatre.

Whitehead was born in the English village of East Malling in 1937 and trained at London’s Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art from the age of 17.

Paxton played Rachel’s Bloomingdale boss Mr Waltham

He began his theatre career in 1958 when he was signed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, before making his Broadway debut in 1962 in The Affair.

In an interview in 2017, Whitehead said his most farcical roles were the ones he enjoyed the most.

He said: “Everybody says they are difficult to do, but it depends. You either have a knack for it or you don’t.

“I think it is hard for some people. I found it not so difficult. I don’t know. I just seemed to respond to it.

“When I was younger, I would try very hard to get the vocal point right. If I felt the rhythm and sound of the character — if I got that right, and usually the difference is very subtle — then I think everything else seemed to follow, the movement and so on”.

Whitehead is survived by son Charles and daughter Alex.

This story was first published in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.