Stephen Furst (Vir on Babylon 5) dies

[Thomas Veil]

Sad news. Especially since he joins fellow cast members Michael O'Hare, Richard Biggs, Andreas Katsulas, Jerry Doyle and Jeff Conaway. That's a high attrition rate for a show that was on in the '90s.

Vir was one of the show's moral centers. And he got what was probably the best line in the entire show:

Mr. Morden: What do YOU want?
Ambassador Vir Cotto: I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I want to look up into your lifeless eyes and wave like this.
[waves]
Ambassador Vir Cotto: Can you and your associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden?
​

RIP, Stephen, and thanks for the memories.

 

[keysofanxiety]

awwh man. I love B5. Developed a lot of respect for Vir too... he never wavered morally or loyally even when Londo lead him into a lot of trouble.

 

[Thomas Veil]

Another of Furst's (and the series') best scenes:

 

[MachCrit]

Furst broke out playing "Flounder" on Animal House with John Belushi. Magnificent performance that launched his career.

Died of complications from diabetes. Nice guy who deserved a long, peaceful life.

 

[phrehdd]

About Steve - around the time Steve's career jumped up, he worked as a waiter in a pizza joint in Hollywood. He was well liked by the off beat crowd that hung out (including Ed Wood during his last years). Steve was not only a great waiter but a genuinely nice guy and very funny. That laugh he has (see Animal House) is his real laugh and was amazingly infectious. He would tell a joke, laugh at himself and before you know it, everyone else was laughing. This is the Steve I will remember and it saddens me to see him go so early.

 

[iShater]

RIP. I didn't realize so many of the cast had already passed away

 

[CarlJ]

Mr. Morden: What do YOU want?
Ambassador Vir Cotto: I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I want to look up into your lifeless eyes and wave like this.
[waves]
Ambassador Vir Cotto: Can you and your associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden?

One of my favorite moments, on a show that had many to choose from. I always loved the way his name sounded when Lando rolled it off his tongue... "Veer-r-r-r-uh" (and the interplay between Lando and G'Kar over the whole series). I liked the way that even characters that were nominally secretaries/aides were complicated (and the way that little details from earlier seasons took on new import as time passed). As I recall, Vir finally did get to see Mr. Morden's head on a pike, far down the road. He will be missed.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sad news indeed; I hadn't realised that so many of the cast had passed away, either.

 

[MachCrit]

Life long Diabetes issues and family history. How the disease damages the body.

http://www.drmirkin.com/histories-and-mysteries/stephen-furst-flounder-diabetic-at-17.html