He became particularly beloved to a younger audience when he starred on the WB’s “Gilmore Girls” (2000 through 2007) as wealthy businessman Richard Gilmore, who had a rocky relationship with his daughter, Lorelai (Lauren Graham), when she became pregnant at age 16. Throughout the series, fans loved the spark between Herrmann and his TV wife, Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop) as well as his close bond with his granddaughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel).
Herrmann was born in Washington, where his father worked for the government. Though he grew up in Michigan, he came back to the District in 1971 to star in an Arena Stage production of “Moonchildren.” (Five years later, he won a Tony Award for starring in “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” on Broadway.)
In recent years, he also became one of those character actors who showed up everywhere on TV, from sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” to legal drama “The Good Wife.”
Clip from “Eleanor and Franklin”:
Interview with Maryland Theatre Guide:
With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:
And “Gilmore Girls”: