Ed Wheeler, veteran actor on Law & Order and Blue Bloods, dies at 88
Ed Wheeler, the veteran character actor who has appeared on Law & Order and Presumed Innocent, has died at the age of 88.
Wheeler died Aug. 21 from respiratory failure due to pneumonia complications, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed. His wife, fellow actor and producer Messeret Stroman Wheeler, paid homage to her spouse Monday on social media, remembering him as a source of “light, laughter, and love.”
“My honey Ed, you were more than just a public figure; you were a guiding light, a supportive partner and my heart,” wrote Stroman Wheeler. “We built a life and created art together, and your legacy will continue to inspire. I will forever miss your voice, your wisdom and your generosity.”
Stroman Wheeler added, “To all who knew Ed, thank you for your love and support during this time. Let’s remember him for the joy he brought into our lives and the profound impact he had on the world. Rest in peace, my honey. You will always be in my heart.”
Wheeler got his start in the biz in the early 1970s, and his work has also spanned theater and film. He made his screen debut in PBS’ 1978 dramedy series Watch Your Mouth, and would go on to appear on shows The Core of the Apple, Monsters, New York Undercover, Cosby, and Law & Order.
On film, Wheeler starred as George Weln in James L. Brooks’ 1987 film Broadcast News, Detective Jim in 1990’s legal thriller Presumed Innocent, a reporter in the 1999 crime comedy Mickey Blue Eyes. Other credits include The Kill Reflex, Heaven Is a Playground, Thinner, and Daylight. He last appeared on screen in 2010, appearing in an episode of One Life to Live and Blue Bloods.
Most recently, he executive produced the historical short Keepers of the Flame, about activist Mary Church Terrell during the 1913 inaugural women’s suffrage parade, alongside his wife.
In 2017, Wheeler was honored by the National Black Theatre Festival with the Living Legend Award for his contributions to the theater and entertainment industry.