Robert Urich, 1946-2002

ROBERT URICH, known for playing TV private eyes in "Vega$" and "Spenser: For Hire," died Tuesday of cancer. The 55-year-old, Emmy-winning actor passed away surrounded by family and friends at a Los Angeles area hospital, according to his spokesperson.

Urich first announced he had synovial cell sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that attacks the joints, in 1996. He underwent several treatments to fight the cancer during the last years of his life.

Following the disclosure, his series, "The Lazarus Man," was canceled, prompting him to file a $1.5 million lawsuit against the production company. Urich alleged that the show was dropped because of his illness, however he was still able to perform.

Born in Toronto, Ohio, on December 19, 1946, Urich was a star athlete in high school who won a football scholarship to Florida State University. Graduating with a bachelor's degree in communications, he later earned a master's in broadcast research and management at Michigan State and became a salesman for Chicago's WGN. Later, he worked briefly as a TV weatherman.

But it was Florida State alum BURT REYNOLDS who gave Urich his first, big acting break, getting him a role playing Reynolds' younger brother in a stage production of RICHARD NASH's The Rainmaker. Urich then worked steadily throughout his acting career, appearing on several network and cable TV shows, including "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," "S.W.A.T," the first season of "Soap" and more recently "Love Boat: The Next Wave," as the ship's captain, and "Emeril," as a talent agent. All in all, Urich starred in a record 15 TV shows, but he's probably best remembered as Dan Tanna, driving his red '57 Thunderbird on the "Vega$" strip in the hit series that ran from 1978-1981.

The actor also was a presence in films, starring in 'Turk 182' with TIMOTHY HUTTON; 'Ice Pirates' co-starring ANGELICA HUSTON; and 'Magnum Force' with CLINT EASTWOOD.

In the late 1990s, Urich became very active in cancer research with his wife, actress HEATHER MENZIES, whom he married in 1974. The star couple established a fund, the Heather and Robert Urich Fund for Sarcoma Research, and earlier this year, Urich donated his $125,000 prize from an appearance on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" to a fund at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was treated.

Robert Urich is survived by his wife; three children (ALLISON, RYAN, and EMILY); a sister; two brothers; and his mother.