CNN) -- Tony Randall, the Emmy-winning actor who made the role of fussy neatnik Felix Unger his own in TV's "The Odd Couple," has died. Randall was 84.



The actor died in his sleep Monday evening at NYU Medical Center in New York, according to a statement from his publicist. The cause of death was "complications from a prolonged illness," the statement said.

Randall starred in a number of movies -- he performed in the Rock Hudson-Doris Day films "Pillow Talk" (1959), "Lover Come Back" (1961) and "Send Me No Flowers (1964) as well as the Jayne Mansfield comedy "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957) -- but he was probably best known for his television roles.

Besides "The Odd Couple," his series included "Mr. Peepers," "The Tony Randall Show" and "Love, Sidney" -- the latter the first show featuring an openly gay lead character.

Randall, an expert raconteur, was also a frequent guest on "The Tonight Show."

The actor was born Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 26, 1920.

Randall was married twice, the first time for 54 years to Florence Gibbs, who died in 1992 after a long illness. In November, 1995, he married again, this time to Heather Harlan, an actress he met while she was interning at the National Actors Theater.

Randall is survived by Harlan, their seven-year-old daughter Julia Laurette Randall, and 5-year-old son, Jefferson Salvini Randall.



http://www.eonline.com/Ne...28,00.html

RIP, Mr. Randall.

So now there will be 2 more, yes?

People die in 3s.

I remember LOVING this show when I was little.

starkitty said:

don't jinx nobody!

mr. randall

RIP, to the man who immortalized the neat and conservative Felix Unger.

Tony Randall was so talented. I loved him in the crazy 60's comedies he made and he was fantastic in the Odd Couple too.

God bless you, Mr. Randall...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Well, it can be anybody famous, so let's hope its a couple people like Osama bin Laden, or Pauly Shore. Y'know, truly evil people!!!

People might be forgetting that Tony Randall become famous again recently for having two young kids. They are five and seven. Very sad. Now those young kids don't have a father.

VinnyM27 said:

I was actually thinking about that but waiting for someone to bring it up. there is a very large downside to marrying some young thing and having kids when you have one foot in the grave, not just for yourself but also for those children. his wife will probably marry again, but it's nothing but tragic that those children had to lose their father so young.

rest in peace, mr randall. loved your stuff and thanks for all the laughs

XxAxX said:

I loved Felix and will definitely think of Mr. Randall when I look at those syndicated re-runs on TV Land.

I also loved the movies he played in like "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson.

He was a very good actor and from what I've heard, highly intelligent.

R.I.P. Tony Randall, because a lot more people are going to miss you more than you realized.

GeSmi1