Actor Ron Silver, who received a Tony Award for his role as a Hollywood producer in David Mamet’s play “Speed-the-Plow” and saw a political U-turn from steadfast Democrat to Republican activist following the September 11 attacks, died on Sunday. He was 62.

“Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning” in New York City, announced Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Ron Silver helped found. Robin Bronk explained that the actor had been fighting esophageal cancer for a couple of years.

Creative Coalition is an art-oriented political group set up in 1989 by Ron Silver, Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon, among other figures. The actor, who was Emmy-nominated for his part in the hit TV drama “The West Wing,” had been a longtime liberal activist, but nonetheless turned into an open supporter of Republican President George W. Bush following the 9/11 attacks and would sometimes describe himself as a “9/11 Republican.”

Ron Silver was a featured speaker at the 2004 Republican National Convention and changed his party affiliation from Democrat to independent.

He made his film debut in “Tunnel Vision” in 1976, while additional screen roles include parts in 1983’s “Lovesick,” 1984’s “Garbo Talks,” as well as 1989’s “Enemies: A Love Story.” From 1991 to 2000, Ron Silver was the president of the Actors’ Equity Association. Moreover, in February last year, he started hosting “The Ron Silver Show” on Sirius Satellite Radio, which concentrated on politics and public matters.