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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Emmy award-winning actor Tony Randall, best known for his comic role as the lovable but fussy Felix Unger in "The Odd Couple," has died at age 84.
"Mr. Randall passed away yesterday evening at a hospital after battling with a long-term illness since January," said Joe Trentacosta of Springer Associates Public Relations on Tuesday.
Randall underwent heart surgery late last year that left him suffering from pneumonia, but he recently had shown signs of recovering and growing stronger before suffering a setback two days ago, Trentacosta said.
In a career starting in the 1940s, Randall worked in radio, on Broadway, in television and film, but he was best known for his "Odd Couple" role that earned him an Emmy in 1975.
The TV series, which ran from 1970-1975 and was adapted from a Neil Simon play, saw his opera-loving neatnik paired with sports-loving, slovenly Oscar Madison, played by Jack Klugman, as the unlikely duo shared an apartment after both were divorced.
As well as "The Odd Couple," Randall starred as the best friend of Robinson Peepers, played by Wally Cox, in the 1950s sitcom "Mr. Peepers."
Despite dozens of countless stage appearances, films and TV specials, Randall became synonymous with his role as Unger and revived that character in a 1993 made-for-television movie and on stage in 1994.
Younger posters will know him from a supporting role in Down With Love, or as the voice of the Brain Gremlin in Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Last edited by crappertay; 05-18-2004 at 12:22 PM.
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