Although best known as Richard Gilmore from Gilmore Girls, Edward Herrmann had a diverse film career to which his portrayal in the role was just a part. His versatility was a given: FDR in Annie; a vampire in The Lost Boys; Nixon among many other films. To commemorate his major contributions to the art of film, this post is a look at some of his most memorable film performances.
The Great Gatsby (1974)
In the 1974 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, Edward Herrmann portrayed Ewing Klipspringer, a carefree, piano-playing houseguest. Klipspringer is depicted as a literary freeloader who exploits Gatsby’s wealth and hospitality. Directed by Jack Clayton, the film features Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby and Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan.
The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)
In 1975, Edward Herrmann played an uncredited part of Ezra Stiles in The Great Waldo Pepper. The film stars Robert Redford as barnstorming veteran pilot Waldo Pepper, a World War I veteran. However, Maude’s brother Stiles promises to build for Waldo a high performance monoplane. The goal is for Waldo to be the first that attempts and it works, an outside loop.
Annie (1982): Herrmann as President Franklin D. Roosevelt
In the 1982 film version of musical Annie, Edward Herrmann played Franklin D. It was not his first FDR as he also had previously portrayed the role on television as he had in the films Eleanor and Franklin (1976), Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1976). Herrmann presents a warm and completely charming representation of FDR, as a man in decent times, the Great Depression, who was kind and compassionate. He convinces Oliver Warbucks to create a social welfare movement beneficial to American poor people.
Reds (1981): A Character Actor in Warren Beatty’s Film
Edward Herrmann played Max Eastman, an important supporting character, in the 1981 historical drama Reds by Warren Beatty. Eastman was a member of the politically radical Greenwich Village/Provincetown group surrounding John Reed (Warren Beatty) and Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton). Herrmann’s tiny part is nonetheless significant in the first half, making for the film’s ‘world’ into being. The harsh realities of the era that his character lives through and his resignation are the same depicted experiences which complement the film in its examination of the American socialist movement.
Harry’s War (1981): A Rare Leading Role
In 1981, Edward Herrmann played Harry Johnson in this rare leading role for the comedy-drama Harry’s War. After the death of his aunt from a heart attack while she was fighting back taxes she was incorrectly assessed, Harry, a mild mannered postman, declares war on the IRS. Shot in the lapidary style of Capraesque film of man versus bureaucracy, we see Harry taking on the IRS by unconventional means and questioning their right to hate and ‘Destroy people.’ ”
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985): A Film-within-a-Film Character
Among the characters in Woody Allen’s 1985 film “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” Edward Herrmann delivers a memorable performance as Henry. The plot features waitress during the Depression era Cecilia who, fed up with her dull life, resorts to movies as her escape. What follows is fuelled with strange and romantic developments as Tom Baxter, a character from the film she is sitting and watching at a town centre cinema, steps off the screen to become real in the real world. The actors (Herrmann and the others in The Purple Rose of Cairo) are clearly having a blast playing classic film tropes of characters going back in time, etc.
The Lost Boys (1987): Herrmann as the Head Vampire Max
Edward Herrmann delivered a memorable performance as Max in the 1987 horror-comedy The Lost Boys, portraying the seemingly mild-mannered owner of a video store who is ultimately revealed to be the head vampire. Max romances the mother of the main characters, concealing his true nature until the film’s climax. Herrmann’s portrayal is particularly compelling as he initially presents as a “loveable dweeb,” only to later expose his calculating and villainous intentions. This twist is regarded as one of the film’s highlights, with Max’s reveal and his plan to establish a vampire family adding depth to the narrative.
Overboard* (1987): Playing Grant Stayton III
In the 1987 romantic comedy Overboard, Edward Herrmann portrayed Grant Stayton III, the unfaithful and indifferent husband of Joanna Stayton (Goldie Hawn). Joanna, a wealthy socialite, falls off their yacht and loses her memory. Instead of taking care of her, Grant chooses to abandon her. Dean, played by Kurt Russell, persuades her that she is his wife as retribution for her prior mistreatment of him.
Richie Rich (1994): As Richard Rich Sr.
Edward Herrmann portrayed Richard Rich, the affluent father of Macaulay Culkin’s character in the 1994 film Richie Rich. When Richard and his wife Regina go missing, Richie enlists the help of new friends to rescue his parents and recover the family fortune. The film is a live-action adaptation of the comic book adventures featuring the exceedingly wealthy boy.
From presidents to vampires, unfaithful husbands to caring fathers, Edward Herrmann’s film roles demonstrate an impressive range and depth. He consistently enhanced every project he participated in, creating a memorable and diverse body of work that merits recognition beyond his role on Gilmore Girls. His talent continues to resonate with audiences, solidifying his status as a significant figure in American cinema.