Erich Anderson, ‘Felicity’ Actor and 'Friday the 13th' Alum, Dead at 67

Actor Erich Anderson has died. He was 67.

Anderson’s wife, fellow actress Saxon Trainor , confirmed the sad news on Instagram over the weekend.

The actor and writer made countless appearances on several hit crime shows, dramas and sci-fi series, but his most recognizable role was, arguably, when he portrayed Dr. Edward Porter–the father of Keri Russell 's Felicity–on Felicity. Anderson was featured in nine episodes of the Emmy-winning series, which was created by J.J. Abrams in 1998 and ran for four seasons until it wrapped in the spring of 2002.

Other memorable credits include stints on NYPD Blue , Melrose Place , Thirtysomething , Dallas , Bay City Blues and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. He also wrote an episode of the 1995 TV series The Marshal, starring Jeff Fahey and Ryan Reynolds , and guest-starred on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

"My husband Erich died this morning," Trainor solemnly began in a brief message shared alongside a portrait of the late actor. "I am sharing my brother-in-law Michael O’Malley ’s words as I am too bereft now to write anything."

"My [brother-in-law] Erich Anderson passed this morning after a brutal struggle with cancer. He had a long successful career as an actor—he was on that old show 30 something ; he was Felicity’s father on Felicity ; he was killed in a basement in a Friday the 13th movie: he was on Star Trek and dozens of other shows," the statement continued, "He was a smart and funny guy, a fantastic cook; he wrote three great novels which you can find on Amazon. I’ll miss him but his ordeal is over."

Eve Gordon , who played Anderson's on-screen wife in Felicity , also paid tribute to the late actor on Instagram , writing, "My beautiful friend, Erich Anderson, has said goodbye. He was a magnificent part of the world. I loved him. I wish you’d known him, there was no one like him. So funny, so open to whatever the day brought him, so wickedly cynical and joyous at once."

"After JJ and Matt on Felicity made us get divorced, I saw him less on set, but was always happy when we found each other in LA, we’d hang out and talk for hours," Gordon continued, "He was so smart.Ah, look at this Erich, I’m using the past tense. My friend, I hope I see you again in dreams and other dimensions. Fly high, my friend."

The official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Friday the 13th film series also honored its late star, "RIP Erich Anderson. Rob Dier, Friday The 13th IV."

Along with his acting and screenwriting roles, Anderson also published three novels .

Anderson is survived by his wife of 21 years.

Next: Remembering the Stars and Legends We've Lost In 2024