John Forsythe: R.I.P.

Actor John Forsythe, who enjoyed a long career on stage, film and television, died yesterday after a battle with cancer, his family said in a statement today. "He was 92 years old and, thankfully, he died as he lived his life ... with dignity and grace, after a year-long struggle with cancer," the statement said.

Forsythe passed away on April 1 in Santa Ynez, California, northwest of Los Angeles, near Santa Barbara, after having suffered a bout of pneumonia.

The actor's career spanned more than five decades as he started work in New York on Broadway in plays such as the Pulitzer Prize winning "Teahouse of the August Moon" and on live television shows like "Studio One."

Forsythe moved to Los Angeles and began working in TV where his association with Hollywood producer Aaron Spelling led to his role as Blake Carrington in "Dynasty," for which he won two Golden Globe best actor awards.

He was the voice of "Charlie" in the original 1970s TV series "Charlie's Angels" and in two feature films, "Charlie's Angels" and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."