The body of 45-year-old actor Michael Showers — who had a recurring role as Capt. John Guidry of the New Orleans Police Department on Treme — has been discovered by a steamboat captain in the Mississippi River near the French Quarter. Local authorities estimate that he had been there for at least two days.
The official statement from the show’s creator, David Simon: “Michael Showers was a fine actor who contributed his talents to our drama in the warmest and most professional way. We enjoyed his work — and working with him. Going forward, we’re going to miss having him as part of our production. All of which seems of little import in light of the loss of a man’s whole life, and what that loss truly means to him, his family, his friends. Our respect and condolences go to them, especially.”
Simon also had this to say to the The Times-Picayune: “We had plans for [David Morse’s Lt.] Colson character in which Guidry would’ve been relevant. And we’ll obviously go in a different way and will have to adjust. This happens in a continuing series. The important thing isn’t that we have to adjust. The important thing is that his life has ended in a most unfortunate way.”[via AV Club]