Asher Flemming (portrayed by Michael York), is a Yale professor and author, who develops a romantic relationship with Paris Geller. The two met through Richard Gilmore, because Asher and Richard went to school together. Despite the massive age difference, Rory and Asher had a serious relationship throughout Paris and Rory's freshman year of Yale. He dies of a heart attack two weeks before Rory and Paris' sophomore year of Yale begins. (5.03) He was teaching a Shakespeare class in Oxford when he had the heart attack.