24‘s Gregory Itzin Dead at 74
Onetime 24 POTUS Gregory Itzin died on Friday, at the age of 74. Itzin, who had suffered a major heart attack back in 2015, died from complications that arose during an emergency surgery, EW reports.[pmc_inline_gallery]
Jon Cassar, who was an executive producer and director on Fox’s 24, shared the sad news on Twitter, hailing Itzin as “one of the most talented actors I had the honor to work with” and “an all around great guy.”
Itzin is well-remembered for his run as 24‘s Charles Logan, a Machiavellian-if-sniveling politician. Logan debuted during Season/Day 4 as VP to President John Keeler (played by Geoff Pierson); by Hour 17 of that season, after Keeler had been incapacitated, Logan invoked the 25th Amendment to take over as POTUS.
Throughout his 24 run, Itzin earned two Emmy nominations — for Supporting Actor in a Drama (for when Charles Logan emerged as a major Season 5 player) and for Guest Actor in a Drama, for his Season 10 return as the former and thoroughly disgraced POTUS. (Jean Smart in turn collected a pair of Emmy nods, for playing Charles’ calculating wife Martha.) Itzin was also honored as a part of Season 5’s SAG Award-nominated ensemble.
Itzin’s TV career began in the late 1970s/early 1980s, with bit parts on series such as Charlie’s Angels, Fame and the sudser Santa Barbara. His first major gig came in 1989 on the NBC sitcom The Nutt House, followed by roles on Eerie, Indiana, L.A. Law, Something Wilder, Murder One, Profiler, Friends, Judging Amy and a variety of Star Trek series.
My friend Greg Itzin passed away today.He was one of the most talented actors I had the honor to work with, but more than that he was an all around great guy. He’ll be missed by his 24 family who had nothing but love & respect for him. You made your mark, now Rest In Peace friend pic.twitter.com/IbrhAQXix2
— Jon Cassar (@joncassar) July 8, 2022
Hot off his 24 run, Itzin would play Big Love‘s Senator Dwyer, Lisbon’s boss Virgil Minelli on The Mentalist, Jai’s father Henry Wilcox on Covert Affairs, and Mob City‘s Mayor Brown. More recently, he guested on a February 2020 episode of NCIS.
Sendhil Ramamurthy, who played Covert Affairs‘ Jai, remembers Itzin as Aa “consummate professional and all around lovely man…. Such a pleasure working with you, Greg.”
Nooooooo. A consummate professional and all around lovely man. Horrible news. Such a pleasure working with you Greg. Sending love to his family. R.I.P. #CovertAffairs https://t.co/StcxLOV7BK
— Sendhil Ramamurthy (@Sendhil_Rama) July 8, 2022
Outside of TV, Itzin earned a Tony Award nomination in 1994 for his role in The Kentucky Cycle, and sorta-memorably played Religious Zealot #1 in 1980’s Airplane!
One of my favorite actors (as a viewer) and as coworker (did a few plays with him). Hell of a nice guy off screen…. usually not so much on screen. He had a great way of playing a villain.
This is sad. We forget sometimes how many great actors appeared on 24 over the years. His scenes with Jean Smart were memorable. RIP.
😭😭😭😭
I remember enjoying his performance on ‘The Mentalist’. R.I.P.
See you on the other side soon Charles Logan!
– Jack Bauer
He and Jean Smart were so memorable on 24
Another one. This is a bad week. He was my favourite boss on The Mentalist. Condolences to his family, friends and fans.
He was so great on 24! He really made it one of the great characters that you loved to hate and added to the adrenaline of the show.
exactly as every time i saw him i just wanted to throw a remote at my tv as he was that knivining
He was the I hate to love or love to hate character as Logan
He’ll be missed
But Logan won’t
But didn’t 24 only have 8 seasons + Live Another Day not 10
Great actor…R.I.P. 😢
Boy, if there was ever a character I loved to hate, it was Gregory Itzin’s character as Charles Logan, a garbage POTUS if there ever was one. Funny thing is that his character wasn’t as bad the real thing we got saddled with in 2016.
Talking politics after someone died is disrespectful besides I’d love to go back to the former POTUS when I could afford food and gas and we didn’t keep coming to brink of WW3.
Holy cow! Excellent actor! Sad to hear!
As a huge 24 fan, he’ll always be Charles Logan forever. RIP Gregory Itzin
We’ve been rewatching The Mentalist this summer. This guts me.
There are so many folks I knoow that have spent the summer watching the entire series of The Mentalist including myself. Gregory Itzin was terrific in it
I showed the husband, and he immediately said, “Oh, THAT guy!? [long pause] He was the boss on the Mentalist, and … remember him in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas? [long silence] Never the lead, but he was a GREAT character actor!” I the wife add here, he made all the shows he appeared in great. Tell his family, we were blessed.
‘ thats Jackbauer! waaal you were such an actor such a great man- ‘ Bill i dont need your lecturer i need results’ – love you man – you did great in the field of entertainment – learned a lot from you
R.I.P