Actor Ron Silver dies

Actor Ron Silver , who won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet 's " Speed-the-Plow " and did a political about-face from loyal Democrat to Republican activist after the Sept. 11 attacks , died Sunday at the age of 62.

Silver, an Emmy nominee for a recurring role as a slick strategist for liberal President Jed Bartlet on " The West Wing ," had a long history of balancing acting with left-leaning social and political causes.
But after the 2001 terrorist attacks, longtime Democrat Silver turned heads in Hollywood with outspoken support of President George W. Bush over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan .

My prayers are with Ron's family and friends.