The Heartbreaking Death Of New Girl Actor Ralph Ahn
Throughout its seven-season run, Fox's "New Girl" introduced audiences to a variety of colorful characters, but few recurring personalities were as beloved as Tran. Portrayed by actor Ralph Ahn, Tran was the silent confidant of Nick (Jake Johnson), who would often meet in the park to let the sarcastic bartender vent about his roommates and love life. According to E! News, 95-year-old Ahn passed away February 26 after recently being admitted to the hospital with an unspecified illness.
The Korean-American actor was born on September 28, 1926, in Los Angeles to Korean immigrants, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The son of a Korean independence activist, Ahn served the U.S. Navy in World War II, according NBC News. He followed in his older brother's footsteps to become an actor, appearing in such TV shows as "Gilmore Girls," "Walker, Texas Ranger," and "The Golden Girls." However, it was his role on the Fox sitcom "New Girl" that won him the most notoriety.
Ralph Ahn's co-stars gave emotional tributes on social media
According to the series' showrunners (per The Hollywood Reporter), it was "New Girl" star Jake Johnson's idea to introduce the character of Tran to the show, so it's no surprise the actor shared the news of Ralph Ahn's passing with his social media followers. Johnson posted an image of Ahn from "New Girl" on Instagram with the statement, "So much fun to work with. He gave so much with literally no lines. I loved when he was on set. I was always expecting to somehow work with him again." Their co-stars, Zooey Deschanel and Lamorne Morris, also expressed their upset, with Deschanel commenting on Johnson's post with a crying emoticon and a simple sentiment: "Nooooo."
Morris, who played Winston on the show, also paid tribute on Instagram with a picture of the late actor. "This man lived a lot of life, keep his friends and family in yall thoughts and prayers," he wrote.