Sad news: Ron Leibman, 'Up The Academy' star who played Major Vaughn Liceman dies at 82

Ron Leibman, who starred in films such as "Norma Rae," "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Where's Poppa?" – and played Rachel Greene's nasty father on TV's "Friends" – died Friday at 82.    

Leibman's agent, Robert Attermann of Abrams Artists Agency, confirmed the passing of the "incredibly talented actor with a distinguished career in film, TV and theatre" in a statement.  Leibman infamously asked to have his acting credit removed from "Up The Academy" as he felt the material or finished product was below his standards.

​Leibman, a native New Yorker who was married to actress Jessica Walter, made his big-screen debut in director Carl Reiner's 1970 dark comedy "Where's Poppa?" He worked steadily in films, including as the labor organizer Reuben in 1979's "Norma Rae," starring alongside Oscar-winner Sally Field as the title character.

He won an Emmy award playing reformed car thief, Martin ‘Kaz’ Kazinsky, who becomes a criminal attorney in the short-lived CBS crime drama "Kaz." The series, which he co-wrote and created, ran for a 23-show season starting in 1978, and then was cancelled.