Bill Paxton to Be Honored on 'Training Day' (original) (raw)

Training Day is set to honor the late Bill Paxton in this week’s episode, EW has learned.

The CBS crime procedural, a follow-up to Antoine Fuqua’s 2001 Oscar-winning drama of the same name, will feature a dedication to Paxton at the top of the episode. Paxton, who died at 61 on Saturday due to complications from surgery, played Detective Frank Rourke in both the movie and TV series.

Paxton starred alongside actor Justin Cornwell (Detective Kyle Craig) in the series, and CBS has yet to decide whether it will continue without him. Although production has already been completed on the show’s 13 episodes, the series hasn’t been able to boost low ratings since its early February premiere. The series has averaged 4.86 million viewers and a mere 0.9 rating among adults 18-49 thus far. Meanwhile, Doubt, CBS’ Katherine Heigl-starring crime drama, has also suffered low ratings and was pulled from the network’s schedule on Friday.

Training Day executive producers Barry Schindel and Will Beall released a statement paying tribute to Paxton. “Like anyone who had the chance to work with Bill, you emerge from the experience much richer for it, with an even greater appreciation for his talent, humor and overall goodness as a human being,” they wrote. “At Training Day, not only were we lucky enough to have the chance to witness Bill’s commitment to his performance on a daily basis, but also to learn from it and appreciate his incredible generosity to everyone connected to the production. We already miss him incredibly so, and send our love and thoughts to his family.”

In the wake of Paxton’s death on Saturday, tributes have poured in from across the Hollywood community. “Rest In Peace my sweet friend,” tweeted his Training Day costar Julie Benz, who plays a madam and Paxton’s on-screen romantic partner.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened this morning by the news of Bill Paxton’s passing,” CBS and Warner Bros., which produces Training Day, said in a statement Sunday. “Bill was, of course, a gifted and popular actor with so many memorable roles on film and television. His colleagues at CBS and Warner Bros. Television will also remember a guy who lit up every room with infectious charm, energy, and warmth, and as a great storyteller who loved to share entertaining anecdotes and stories about his work. All of us here offer our deepest sympathy to his wife, Louise, and his two children.”

The Paxton-dedicated episode of Training Day airs Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.