Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- Actor James Farentino , whose television acting career began in the early 1960s , died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles , according to a hospital spokeswoman . He was 73 . No other details about Farentino 's death on Tuesday could be released because of federal health privacy laws , hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart said . The Brooklyn , New York , native won the 1967 `` Most Promising Newcomer '' Golden Globe . He was nominated for a best supporting actor Emmy in 1978 for his portrayal of Simon Peter in the TV mini-series `` Jesus of Nazareth . '' His 50-year acting career included more than 100 TV roles , including as the father of George Clooney 's character in `` ER . '' Farentino also appeared on stage and the big screen , including the military science-fiction film `` The Final Countdown '' in 1980 . People we 've lost in 2012 : The lives they lived . CNN 's Jane Caffrey contributed to this report .
Frank 's acting resume includes more than 100 television credits . He played the father of George Clooney 's character in NBC 's ` ` . '' Farentino won the ' ` ` Most Promising Newcomer '' Golden Globe .