Actor Mitchell Ryan has died at the age of 88 from congestive heart failure, his agent has confirmed.
The star had a number of well known roles, including as The General in 1987 film Lethal Weapon, and in classic TV series The Golden Girls.
Tributes have started pouring in for the popular star, including from his former on-screen love interest Kathryn Leigh Scott.
Kathryn played Maggie Evans on Dark Shadows, alongside Mitchell as ex-con Burke Devlin.
She posted: “My sweet, beloved friend Mitch died early this morning.
“He was a great gift in my life. I cherish my warm memories of his beautiful soul. I’m heartbroken.”
(Image: WireImage)
She shared a series of photos with Mitchell, with the duo smiling happily years after working together.
Mitchell had a glittering career, working alongside Hollywood titans such as Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover.
And he even took on the role of Playboy boss Hugh Hefner in the 1981 television movie Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story.
Mitchell’s step-daughter Denise Freed told The Hollywood Reporter that he died at his home in Los Angeles on Friday.
While his career was thriving, the star spoke of his issues with alcohol back in 1976, after he was fired from Dark Shadows in 1966.
He told TV Guide back then: “I was so drunk that year, I barely remember what it was about.”
And he later gave up alcohol.
But it didn’t affect his career too much, and he was even highly considered for the lead role of Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The role eventually went to Patrick Stewart, but Mitchell did appear in a 1989 episode as the character Kyle Riker.
(Image: WireImage)
Speaking in 2018, he said: “I was pretty well considered until they ran across that incredible British actor… Patrick Stewart.
“I don’t know how close I came, but I was told [at the time] I was really being considered and it was looking good.”
Aside from acting, Mitchell also served in the US Navy during the Korean War but knew it wasn’t the path he wanted to go down.
He saw a 1953 production of Dark of the Moon in Louisville and was convinced to follow acting after that.
Mitchell got his movie debut in the 1958 flick Thunder Road and went on to star in television shows including Naked City and The Defenders.
According to IMDB, he was set to play Kenton MacBride in Valley of Shadows, which is listed as being in pre-production stages.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
