George Segal, the Oscar-nominated actor who sparred with Richard Burton in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”, romanced Glenda Jackson in “A Touch of Class” and won laughs in the TV sitcom “The Goldbergs”, has died at the age of 87, his wife Sonia said on Tuesday.

“The family is devastated to announce that this morning George Segal passed away due to complications from bypass surgery,” Sonia Segal said in a statement to entertainment outlets Variety and Deadline.

ABC Entertainment added in a statement to ET Canada: “For eight years, George Segal made us laugh as Pops on ‘The Goldbergs’, but his legacy in the entertainment world spans decades. His talent has left an indelible mark and we’re grateful for the laughter and joy he has given us all. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his wife, Sonia, and his family during this difficult time.”

Charming and witty, Segal excelled in dramatic and comedic roles and had a life-long passion for the banjo. He performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1981 with his group, the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band.

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Segal’s acting career began on the New York stage and television in the early 1960s. He quickly moved into films, playing an artist in the star-studded ensemble drama “Ship of Fools” and a scheming, wily American corporal in a Second World War prisoner-of-war camp in “King Rat” in 1965.

Two years later he earned an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actor in the harrowing, marital drama “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” with Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

After the sad news emerged online, stars paid tribute to the much-loved actor.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Stephen Coates)

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