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'Gilmore Girls' stars remember late actor Edward Herrmann: 'Happy birthday Dad'

"Gilmore Girls" stars Lauren Graham and Kelly Bishop both shared sweet messages in honor of what would have been Herrmann's 73rd birthday Thursday.
/ Source: TODAY

It's been a year and a half since stage and screen star Edward Herrmann died, but the man best known to many as the patriarch of the Gilmore gang still lives on in the thoughts of his TV family.

"Gilmore Girls" stars Lauren Graham and Kelly Bishop both shared sweet messages in honor of what would have been Herrmann's 73rd birthday Thursday.

Bishop posted a photo from the show of her wrapped up in Herrmann's arms. She called him "a true inspiration," and added, "You're loved and missed by all."

RELATED: Kelly Bishop: Edward Herrmann will be 'watching over' 'Gilmore Girls' revival

Graham reposted Bishop's message and added one of her own alongside a Gilmore family photo, featuring her on-screen parents and daughter Rory (Alex Bledel).

"Miss this, happy birthday Dad," she wrote.

Gilmore Girls cast
GILMORE GIRLS, (L to R-back row): Keiko Angena, Yanic Truesdale, Liza Weil, Kelly Bishop, Edward Herrmann, Melissa McCarthy, Liz Torres, and Sean Gunn. (L to R-bottom row): Milo Ventimiglia, Scott Patterson, Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel and Jared Padalecki. 2000-2007.Everett Collection

In February, Bishop spoke to TVLine about the influence Herrmann will have on the show's upcoming Netflix revival — in that the loss of Richard will be a motivating force for her own character. But that's not the only way he'll be involved.

RELATED: Netflix officially confirms 'Gilmore Girls' revival: 'Welcome back, girls'

"Ed's probably going to be hovering around the set a bit and watching over us," she said. "I really do believe that. Because he really loved the show."

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