BABYLON 5's Richard Biggs passes away

Actor played Dr. Stephen Franklin on B5

By Patrick Sauriol     May 23, 2004
Source: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated, Peter David.net

Actor Richard Biggs, best known to genre fans for portraying Dr. Stephen Franklin on BABYLON 5, has passed away. According to a news report written by series creator J. Michael Straczynski and posted to Usenet's BABYLON 5 moderated group, Biggs died yesterday at his home shortly after waking up. He was 43 years old.

Information about the exact cause of death is unknown at this time but due to Biggs' young age and the news that he collapsed without any prior symptoms, two possibilities are that Biggs suffered a fatal stroke or an aneurysm.

In breaking the sad news to the B5 community, Straczynski said "This is a terrible loss for all of us. Richard was a consummate professional but more than that he was an honorable, stand-up guy. If he gave you his word on something, you never had to wonder about it afterward. He was always helpful and supportive of all the cast, even those who only came in for one episode, always with a ready smile and determined to do whatever it took to make the scene work. He was, quite simply, a terrific guy, and everyone here is just devastated at the news."

Calling Biggs "one of the sweetest guys in the world," Peter David, one of the writers who contributed to the B5 universe, also expressed his condolences to Biggs' family. "I'm horrified to learn this," David said at his website. "I was supposed to see Rick at the Motor City Con but he wasn't able to make it, so I didn't, and now I won't get to again."

Before his five years on BABYLON 5, Biggs was a series regular on DAYS OF OUR LIVES playing Dr. Marcus Hunter for six years. He appeared in an episode of TREMORS last year and had also made guest appearances in such shows as ER, NYPD BLUE, JAG and CROSSING JORDAN, to name a few.

The team at CINESCAPE would also like to pass on our condolences to Biggs' family, friends and his many fans.


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