A writer, curator, and museum director, Michael Rush started out in the 1970s as a Jesuit priest and psychologist. He then became an actor, with roles on "Law and Order" and "Spenser: For Hire," before switching to art criticism.

Rush died Friday of pancreatic cancer at age 66.

He began as a museum leader at Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art in Florida. Rush then led the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University from 2005 to 2009, until he was ushered out after battling a trustees' decision to sell off artworks from the museum and shut it down. He was then tapped as founding director of the Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum in 2010, the contemporary art museum which opened in 2012 at Michigan State University.

"In the short time we were fortunate enough to call Michael a colleague, he had a profound impact on the university through his work with the Broad museum and in the art community," Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon said, in a statement released Monday. "The future accomplishments of the museum staff will always reflect the foundation he built."

Eli Broad, the billionaire alumnus of MSU who gave $33 million to establish a museum at his alma mater, released a statement:

"Edye and I are heartbroken that we have lost such a great leader, but we are immensely appreciative of the dedication and commitment he demonstrated during the past two and a half years to making the museum an integral part of the East Lansing community and a world-class destination," said Broad.

A memorial service will be held this spring in New York City and plans to honor Rush are underway at MSU.