The cast of Firefly say goodbye to their Shepherd. Ron Glass dead at 71

Ron Glass, the actor most recently known for playing Shepherd Derrial Book in Firefly has died, aged 71.

The cast of the TV show Firefly, and film Serenity, have made it clear that, this time, it's their turn to say grace.

He got there with grace, humor & enormous heart. He was, among so many other things, my Shepherd. Raise, appropriately, a glass. Rest, Ron. pic.twitter.com/yzPly7TmgENovember 26, 2016

Ron Glass was also a sassy smart ass and I prize that very much. A leaf on the wind. #ripronglassNovember 26, 2016

Ron Glass was one of the greatest actors to work with. His laugh was beyond infectious and his generosity was ever present. #ripronglassNovember 26, 2016

"Shepard, don't move." "Won't go far." We love you, Ron Glass. Don't go far.
A photo posted by @natefillion on Nov 26, 2016 at 2:09pm PST

Happy rebirth, dear Ron Glass.Among the kindest and gentlest souls to have walked this earth with us.https://t.co/rF1bDPxeRaNovember 26, 2016

Ron Glass. What an honor it was to know you, to work beside you and to have called you my friend. You will be missed. I love you sir.November 26, 2016

This is me acting like an idiot just so I could hear Ron Glass laugh. He was the kind of person that remembered the details, that asked about your family's well-being. He hugged hard and often. He would laugh till he cried at a sick joke and top it with a worse one. He loved a Grey Goose crantini and spilled one on my white jeans in the heat of telling a story, and then just said, "Girl, those were ugly pants anyway." I adored him. Everybody did. I love you, Ron. Can't wait to see you again. "I don't care what you believe. Just believe it."
A photo posted by @jewelstaite on Nov 26, 2016 at 2:29pm PST

Glass first break came as Detective Ron Harris in Barney Miller, a 1970-80s police sitcom (for which he won an Emmy). He also appeared in The New Odd Couple, The Twilight Zone, Family Matters, Murder She Wrote, Friends, CSI, Agents of SHIELD, and voiced Garth in Fable 2 among others in a long and varied career.