'I Spy' actor Culp dies

Hollywood veteran Robert Culp died following a head injury...

09:35 25 March 2010

Actor Robert Culp, who found international fame in the 1960s paired with Bill Cosby in the comedy-adventure TV series 'I Spy', has died at the age of 79.

While taking a walk outside his Hollywood home, Culp accidentally hit his head and subsequently died from his injuries, police have stated.

In the series 'I Spy', Culp played an agent whose cover was as a tennis star, while Cosby played his trainer.

It was the first programme on US television to feature an African-American (Cosby) in a lead role.

Culp's screen career started in the 1950s, but he kept busy throughout the decades, recently appearing on the sitcom 'Everybody Loves Raymond'.

Culp, who was born in Oakland, California, in 1930, started garnering roles in TV shows like 'The Man From UNCLE' and 'Outer Limits' in the late 50s before landing the joint lead in 'I Spy' which ran from 1965 to 1968.

For each season, he was nominated for an Emmy but every year he lost out to his co-star Cosby.

Culp's transition to film roles wasn't as high profile, but his role in the 1969 wife-swapping comedy drama 'Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice' was well received. His last project was a family drama film called 'The Assignment' which is currently in post-production.

He was married five times and had five children.