I’ll remember him best as Vir Cotto. Ambassador Molari’s of the Centuri Republic able and pure-hearted assistant, and ultimate Emperor of The Republic. He played comedy and pathos well — sometimes within two sentences.
From IMDB:
Furst publicly credits J. Michael Straczynski’s show “Babylon-5” with saving his life, because he is a longtime diabetic whose kidneys failed midway through the show. A fan who loved his portrayal of ‘Vir’ heard of his health problems and donated a kidney to save him from dialysis and a likely early demise.
Never had to read for the part of “Vir” in Babylon 5 (1994). When he went to the audition, he saw that the other actors had their hair done in the Centauri crest, while he didn’t. A trip to the bathroom to raid the soap dispenser and plaster his hair up ended disastrously with his hair askew and tears running down his face where the soap had gotten in his eyes. When he was called in, he entered apologizing profusely in run-on sentences for his appearance, whereupon the creator and producers looked at each other and said, “Oh my God! It’s Vir!” He asked if they wanted him to read and they said no, he had the part.
That's how I remember him. He was so funny in that role. Sorry to see him pass.
If you want to honor his sons’ wishes you can binge watch him in Babylon 5 online again. It’s now being streamed at: https://www.go90.com/shows/babylon5
He was great as Vir.
I loved the scene where he and Lennier get a drink at the bar and, without speaking to each other, go off on their bosses to themselves. Then they finished their drinks and Vir says, “Same time next week?”
yes, I too remember him most as Vir Cotto on Babylon 5
As do I. My favorite line from Londo: “Now - pffft - anyone can be emperor. I can be emperor. Vir can be emperor. If Vir can be emperor - a small earth cat can be emperor!” from the Day of the Dead, ironically my favorite episode. Long live Vir Kotto, long live Flounder, long live Stephen Furst, i loved your work!