NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- Actor and political activist Ron Silver , who played a recurring role in TV 's presidential drama `` The West Wing , '' and who also let his political views play out in real life , died Sunday after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer , according to a colleague . Ron Silver is seen in this 2006 photograph . He had a recurring role in TV 's `` The West Wing . '' Robin L. Bronk , executive director of The Creative Coalition , said Silver , a New York native , died in his sleep with his family around him . `` Nothing could hold Ron back , not even a debilitating illness . His contributions as an artist and activist will never be forgotten , '' said Bronk , who runs an organization founded in 1989 by Silver , actor Christopher Reeve and other prominent figures in the arts as a political advocacy organization for the entertainment industry . Silver 's politics moved from working for the Democratic Party and its candidates for most of his life to becoming a supporter of many Republican candidates and causes , with the shift occurring after the 9/11 terrorist attacks . He was quoted as saying the terrorist attacks and the Democratic Party 's policies regarding terrorism had persuaded him to become a political independent . He backed then-President George W. Bush for a second term in 2004 , and he spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York . One of Silver 's final television appearances was on CNN 's `` Larry King Live '' last October , when he was part of panel discussing Sen. John McCain 's campaign against then-candidate Barack Obama . Asked by King about rifts within the Republican Party as the election neared and the country 's financial crisis worsened , Silver said , `` The Republican Party , if they are out of power for a while , needs to regroup and rethink who they are as a party . This deregulation , this whole Reagan Revolution , did not seem to work in this crisis . '' Silver 's many roles included playing political consultant Bruno Gianelli in `` The West Wing , '' and attorney Alan Dershowitz in the movie `` Reversal of Fortune . ''
Silver 's many roles included playing consultant Bruno Gianelli in `` The West Wing '' Silver was 62 and had been battling esophageal cancer for two years . Silver was also known for his political activism , first for Democrats , then for GOP . Colleague says Silver died in his sleep with his family around him .