According to CNN, actor Joseph Ruskin has passed away at the age of 89 at his home in Santa Monica. Ruskin was best known for his roles in Star Trek and, later, in Alias, but over the course of his 58-year career, appeared in 25 films and 124 television shows total. Ruskin also played a major part in merging the SAG and AFRTA actor unions in the '80s, a movement that actually became a reality in 2012. "Joe was the epitome of the actor who takes care of all the other actors while keeping one foot firmly planted on the stage or the set," SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard said of Ruskin. "He gave so much for so long it's hard to believe he's gone."
In addition to appearing on the big and small screen, Ruskin had a rich history in theater, and actually began his career on stage: He's performed at the Mark Taper Forum, UCLA’s Freud Playhouse, and Theater 40. His final performance was also on stage — this year, in fact, at the Antaeus Theatre Company.
Ruskin passed away on Dec. 28, according to his IMDb page. According to Deadline, in lieu of flowers, Ruskin's family has requested that donations be made to The Actor’s Fund, the SAG Foundation or the Motion Picture & Television Fund.
