Fred Thompson
Fred Thompson, a renowned American politician, attorney, and actor, made a significant impact as a U.S. Senator and gained prominence as a skilled trial attorney and actor, particularly for his portrayal of D.A. Arthur Branch in "Law & Order".
Movie Actor
August 19, 1942
Leo
November 01, 2015
73
Sheffield, Alabama
(August 19, 1942 â November 1, 2015) was an American politician, lawyer, and actor.
Born in Sheffield, Alabama, Thompson grew up in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He excelled academically and in sports at Lawrence County High School. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Memphis in 1964 and a Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1967.
Thompson began his legal career as an assistant U.S. attorney in Nashville, Tennessee. He gained national prominence as minority counsel to the U.S. Senate Watergate Committee in the early 1970s. Thompson entered politics and served as a Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003. He was known for his conservative views and strong support for the military.
Thompson pursued a successful acting career alongside his political career. He appeared in several films and television shows, including “The Hunt for Red October” (1990), “In the Line of Fire” (1993), and “Law & Order” (2002-2007).
As a senator, Thompson was a vocal critic of the Clinton administration and played a key role in the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2002. Thompson was also inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2008.
Thompson was married twice and had two children. He passed away on November 1, 2015, at the age of 73, due to complications from lymphoma.
Thompson was a talented musician, playing the guitar and piano. He was an avid sports fan and supported the Tennessee Volunteers football team. Thompson was known for his deep, resonant voice and commanding presence.
