Fred Thompson dead: Hollywood actor, influential lawyer and US senator dies aged 73

Former senator and much-loved film actor Fred Thompson has died aged 73.

Thompson died from a recurrence of lymphoma, the newspaper said, quoting a statement by his family, the Nashville Tennessean reports.

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When Thompson worked as an attorney, his efforts helped lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

He served as a senator for the state of Tennessee for eight years as a Republican and briefly as a potential Republican presidential nominee.

Thompson, who stood and imposing 6ft 5ins tall, was best known worldwide for his acting work, including appearing in some blockbuster movies, including Hunt for Red October, and TV series.

     Acting: Appearing in Die Hard 2 (right) 

 The statement from his family reads.

"It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we share the passing of our brother, husband, father, and grandfather who died peacefully in Nashville surrounded by his family,"

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"Fred once said that the experiences he had growing up in small-town Tennessee formed the prism through which he viewed the world and shaped the way he dealt with life. Fred stood on principle and common sense, and had a deep love for and connection with the people across Tennessee whom he had the privilege to serve in the United States Senate. He enjoyed a hearty laugh, a strong handshake, a good cigar, and a healthy dose of humility.

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"Fred was the same man on the floor of the Senate, the movie studio, or the town square of Lawrenceburg, his home.

"Fred believed that the greatness of our nation was defined by the hard work, faith, and honesty of its people. He had an enduring belief in the exceptionalism of our country, and that America could provide the opportunity for any boy or girl, in any corner of our country, to succeed in life. "

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