In 1996, John Aylward got his big break at age 50 on NBC’s “ER” and quickly moved into the lucrative television and film roles, per IMDb. But amidst the “ER” fame, he was also an active member of the theater world. According to the Seattle Rep website, Aylward appeared in over 60 productions over his five-decade career. The organization posted a poignant tribute to the beloved actor, “Seattle Rep lost a beloved member of our family earlier this week, with the passing of long-time company member John Aylward … John left an indelible mark on the Seattle theater community and on everyone he collaborated with over his long career.”
“ER” costar Noah Wyle commented on Instagram: “Very sad news indeed. John was an amazing actor, a gentleman, and a wonderful friend. He’ll be missed.” Eriq LaSalle, another “ER” costar, praised Aylward on Instagram:“He truly was a class act. A great gentle spirit who was always gracious and a joy to work with. A very talented human being.” Film critic Zaki Hasan paid tribute to Aylward, tweeting he was “one of the great TV character actors.”
Fans also chimed in, with onetweeting, “Seattle actor extraordinaire, super nice guy, and one of the best characters on ‘ER.'” But the humble actor would probably be most honored by a young actor who tweeted: “He might not have been famous. But he influenced a GENERATION of actors. RIP John Aylward.”