Fritz Weaver dead: US star of stage and screen dies aged 90

The Tony Award-winning character actor, who played a German Jewish doctor slain by the Nazis in the 1978 mini-series Holocaust, passed away on Saturday at his home in Manhattan.

Weaver's death was confirmed by his son-in-law, Bruce Ostler, but no cause of death was stated.

He was nominated for an Emmy award for portraying the role of Dr. Josef Weiss, the patriarch of a Jewish family in the NBC series Holocaust where his character was first sent to the Warsaw ghetto and then to Auschwitz where he was murdered.

The Pennsylvania-born star was also known for his work in science fiction and fantasy television roles including The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, The X-Files and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. 

The father-of-two featured in many films in his career that spanned more than 50 years, such as films Fail Safe, Demon Seed and The Thomas Crown Affair.

The actor had a successful career in Broadway where he won a Tony award in 1970 for his role in the drama "Child's Play" about the malevolent environment at an exclusive Roman Catholic school for boys.

The Tony Awards paid tribute to the star on Twitter: "Sad to report the passing of @TheTonyAwards-winning actor #FritzWeaver. Rest in peace."

But winning the award did not catapult Mr. Weaver into stardom. "What I remember is a vast silence from the phone," he said, "because people said, ‘We won’t offer it, now, because we can’t offer him enough money.'"

He also starred in many Shakespeare productions including Hamelet, King Lear and Macbeath.

In 2010, the actor was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame and one of his last roles was his appearance in the 2015 Adam Sandler movie, The Cobbler.

Weaver married actress Rochelle Oliver in 1997. He is survived by his daughter, Lydia Weaver; his son, Anthony; and a grandson.

His sister Mary Dodson died in February of this year aged 83.