Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DENNY, CALIF. LENGTH: Short
Flanders died Feb. 22 at his home in Denny, Coroner Bill Fischer said Wednesday. Flanders' family asked that details not be released.
Flanders appeared on ``St. Elsewhere'' from 1982 to 1987, when he left the hospital drama to pursue other roles.
His character departed the series with a spectacular statement about corporate control of hospitals: Westphall told off an executive of the fictional money-grubbing hospital chain, then dropped his pants and mooned him.
Flanders returned in 1988 for the show's farewell episode. He was supposed to talk about beginnings and endings at St. Eligius Hospital, but instead delivered an unscripted soliloquy on death.
The surprised producers were upset but decided to leave in the rambling speech.
He won the Emmy as outstanding actor in a drama series in 1983 for ``St. Elsewhere.'' Six years earlier, he won an Emmy for the title role in ``Harry S. Truman: Plain Speaking.''
He also won 1974 Tony and Drama Desk awards for Broadway's ``A Moon for the Misbegotten'' and an Emmy in 1976 for a TV production of the play.
More recently, he played a father in the 1993 Danielle Steel miniseries ``Message from Nam.''
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition with headshot.