Jennifer Aniston's TV dad on Friends has died after battle with pneumonia

Ron Leibman, played Jennifer Aniston's dad, Dr Leonard Green, on Friends. Photo / Supplied

Tony Award winner, Ron Leibman, played Jennifer Aniston's dad on Friends, charmed Sally Field in Norma Rae, and starred in the Aussie movie Phar Lap, has died at 82.

Tributes are flowing for Ron Leibman who has passed away from complications from pneumonia.

News of the man who played the cantankerous Dr Leonard Green, the father of Jennifer Aniston's Friends character, Rachel Green, has seen fans reminisce over his work.

One fan posted: "Watching him make Ross uncomfortable always made me laugh. Loved the episode where they tried keeping Rachel's dad in one party while keeping her mother in the other party. Great actor."

Another commented: "He let Rachel be a hat... Rest Easy sir."

Others highlighted his wider body of work, including several roles in Law & Order and a little known film Wher's Poppa.

The actor won a Tony Award for Best Actor for his performance as Roy Cohn in Angels in America in 1993.

He also played the handsome union organiser, Reuben Warshowsky, who helps convince Sally Field's Norma Rae to unionise her cotton mill.

Field won a Best Actress Oscar for Norma Rae.

For younger audiences he was known as Rachel Green's father in Friends.

He also had a recurring role in The Sopranos as Dr Lior Plepler and appeared in the movie Garden State.

The pair had been married since 1983.

He was previously married to actress Linda Lavin, who starred in the TV show Alice, from 1969 until 1981.