Fred Thompson, former U.S. senator and actor, dies in Tennessee

(CNN) — Fred Thompson, a former U.S. senator and actor, has died. He was 73.

Thompson died in Nashville, Tennessee, after a recurrence of lymphoma, his family said in a statement Sunday.

“Fred believed that the greatness of our nation was defined by the hard work, faith and honesty of its people. He had an enduring belief in the exceptionalism of our country, and that America could provide the opportunity for any boy or girl, in any corner of our country, to succeed in life,” the statement read.

“Our nation has lost a servant, Tennessee has lost a son, and our family has lost its rock.”