Robert Vaughn Dead: Man From Uncle Actor Dies Aged 83

Secret agent Napoleon Solo in The Man from UNCLE passes away.
Robert Vaughn at the BBC.
Robert Vaughn at the BBC.
Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Actor Robert Vaughn has died aged 83.

The American was best known for his iconic role as Napoleon Solo in The Man from UNCLE.

His manager, Matthew Sullivan, said he passed away after a battle with acute leukaemia.

Oh no. Robert Vaughn, such a fine actor, one of the best Columbo villains (no higher praise than that) & an utterly charming man, has died.

— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) November 11, 2016

RIP Robert Vaughn. The last of The Magnificent 7.
And then there were none. pic.twitter.com/DJ4vUk3dj3

— Scot Williams (@scotwilliams) November 11, 2016

The Magnificent Seven, Bullitt, The Towering Inferno, Battle Beyond the Stars, Superman 3, BASEketball, Pootie Tang

RIP Robert Vaughn

— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) November 11, 2016

And goodbye Napoleon Solo. I loved you when I was a boy. RIP. pic.twitter.com/ngoXznB7wl

— Gary Kemp (@garyjkemp) November 11, 2016

Mr Sullivan, who represented him for 30 years, said: “Mr Vaughn passed away with his family around him.”

The actor is survived by wife Linda, son Cassidy and daughter Caitlin.

Vaughn was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar and Golden Globe for his early role in The Young Philadelphians and in 2012 he became the first major American star to feature on Coronation Street.

He played Milton, a wealthy American who met Sylvia Goodwin, played by Stephanie Cole, on a cruise.

He became a familiar face on British television with his role in the BBC show Hustle where he played conman Albert Stroller from 2004 to 2012.

Vaughn pictured in 2007
Vaughn pictured in 2007
Mark Davis via Getty Images

The Man From U.N.C.L.E saw Vaughn’s Solo paired with David McCallum’s blond Russian Illya Kuryakin, in roles that were revived by Superman actor Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer for Guy Ritchie’s big screen reboot in 2015.

Mr Sullivan said Vaughn was “the most wonderful human being”.

He added: “He had a blast doing Hustle for the BBC, he loved that show and him and Linda loved living in London, it was one of his greatest joys doing that show.”

Mr Sullivan added: “Even at 83, women would still come up to the table to talk to him.”

He said the star particularly enjoyed watching the reboot of The Man from U.N.C.L.E saying: “He and Linda were living in Connecticut and the studio hired out an entire cinema for them to watch the movie.

“He did enjoy it. He loved passing on what was next.”

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