Rory Herrmann said that his father died Wednesday in a New York City hospital where he was being treated for brain cancer. Edward Herrmann was 71. The towering, 6-foot-5 actor with the melodious voice made his mark on stage, on screen and as the narrator of a number of documentaries.

He also provided the voice for Franklin D. Roosevelt in Ken Burns' documentary series "The Roosevelts: An Intimate History," which aired on PBS earlier this year.