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'Get Smart' star Don Adams dead at 82

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Published: Sept. 26, 2005 at 4:05 PM

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Actor Don Adams, best known for his role as Maxwell Smart on TV's Emmy Award-winning comedy "Get Smart," has died in Los Angeles at age 82.

Adams died of a lung infection late Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. His friend and former agent Bruce Tufeld told the Times Adams had been in ill health since breaking his hip a year ago.

Adams catapulted to fame as the bumbling Agent 86 when "Get Smart" debuted on NBC in 1965. He co-starred with Barbara Feldon as Agent 99 and Edward Platt, simply known as "Chief."

Adams said he used an impression of William Powell's Nick Charles from "The Thin Man" movies for the sitcom created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry.

"Get Smart" spawned two of the most popular catchphrases of the decade: "Sorry about that, Chief" and "Would you believe?"

NBC canceled "Get Smart" at the end of its fourth season in 1969, but it was picked up by CBS for its fifth and final season.

Topics: Buck Henry, Don Adams, Mel Brooks
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