Michael Lerner: Elf and Barton Fink actor dies at 81

US histrion Michael Lerner, who appeared successful specified films arsenic Godzilla and Elf and who earned an Oscar information for his relation successful Barton Fink, has died aged 81.

His nephew Sam Lerner announced the actor's decease successful an Instagram connection connected Sunday.

"We mislaid a fable past night. It's hard to enactment into words however superb my uncle Michael was, and however influential helium was to me," helium said.

No further details of Lerner's decease person been given.

"His stories ever inspired maine and made maine autumn successful emotion with acting. He was the coolest, astir confident, talented guy," Sam Lerner said.

"I'm truthful fortunate I got to walk truthful overmuch clip with him, and we're each fortunate we tin proceed to ticker his enactment for the remainder of time. RIP Michael, bask your unlimited Cuban cigars, comfy chairs, and endless movie marathon."

Lerner's acting vocation stretched backmost to the precocious 1960s, erstwhile helium was a pupil astatine the American Conservatory Theater successful San Francisco, California.

On his way to Hollywood stardom, helium archetypal picked up supporting roles connected 2 fashionable TV bid - M*A*S*H and The Rockford Files.

But it was his relation arsenic movie mogul Jack Lipnick successful Barton Fink, a play thriller by the Oscar-winning directors the Coen brothers, that thrust him into the higher echelons of Hollywood success.

In the film, helium starred alongside John Turturro, John Goodman and Judy Davis, successful the relation that earned him an Academy Awards information for champion supporting actor.

His acting vocation took disconnected aft the information and helium appeared successful aggregate films successful the 1990s, including Newsies, Blank Check, Celebrity and Godzilla.

In 1995, helium starred successful the CBS play Courthouse arsenic Judge Myron Winkleman, which lasted for 1 season, and successful 1996 helium played Cher Horowitz's father, Mel Horowitz, for 1 play successful the TV bid Clueless.

In 2003, helium landed a relation successful Elf arsenic short-tempered brag Fulton Greenway, acting alongside comedian Will Ferrell successful the deed Christmas comedy.

More recently, successful 2014 helium had a tiny relation arsenic Senator Brickman successful the blockbuster X-Men: Days of Future Past.