By Ian Swanson - 11/01/15 06:00 PM EST
Fred Thompson, the former U.S. senator also known as a start on television's "Law and Order," has died, according to a report in the Tennessean.
Thompson died from a recurrence of lymphona, according to a statement from his family to the newspaper.
"It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we share the passing our our brother, husband, father, and grandfather who died peacefully in Nashville surrounded by his family," the statement said.
Thompson served as a U.S. senator from 1994 to 2003 for leaving the Senate to resume his acting career.
He briefly ran for president during the 2008 cycle before dropping out in the race eventually won by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
As an actor, Thompson was best known for playing Manhattan D.A. Arthur Branch. He began playing in the role in the last several months of his Senate career.
Before entering the Senate, Thompson had memorable roles in "Die Hard II," "No Way Out," and "Days of Thunder."
But before becoming an actor, Thompsoh had a long career in Tennessee and Washington as a lawyer, including a stint as minority counsel on the Senate Watergate Committee.
"Fred once said that the experiences he had growing up in small-town Tennessee formed the prism through which he viewed the world and shaped the way he dealt with life," his family said in a statement. "Fred stood on principle and common sense, and had a deep love for and connection with the people across Tennessee whom he had the privilege to serve in the United States Senate.
"He enjoyed a hearty laugh, a strong handshake, a good cigar, and a healthy dose of humility. Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of Lawrenceburg, his home," the statement said.
"Fred believed that the greatness of our nation was defined by the hard work, faith, and honesty of its people. He had an enduring belief in the exceptionalism of our country, and that America could provide the opportunity for any boy or girl, in any corner of our country, to succeed in life," the statement concluded.
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/258795-sen-fed-thompson-dies-at-73
