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Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr. (February 6, 1931 – July 9, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned more than 60 years. He was best known for his roles as Zed in the Men in Black franchise (1997-2002) and Patches O'Houlihan in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004). Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated for six Emmy Awards, winning in 1996. Torn also won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Male in a Series, and two CableACE Awards for his work on the show, and was nominated for a Satellite Award in 1997 as well.
Rip Torn was a highly respected American actor known for his distinct voice and versatility, with a prolific career that included training at the Actors Studio and significant roles in theater, television, and film.
He is well recognized for his portrayal of Artie in The Larry Sanders Show, Zed in the Men in Black series, and the coach Patches O'Houlihan in Dodgeball.
He was a dedicated practitioner of method acting, having studied under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York.