Comedian, impersonator Travalena dies

ENCINO, Calif., June 29 (UPI) -- Comedian, impersonator and "Tonight Show" regular Fred Travalena has died in Encino, Calif., at age 66, his publicist says.

Travalena, known as "The Man of a Thousand Faces," fought cancer for seven years after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2002 and prostate cancer in 2003, CNN reported.

The lymphoma went into remission but returned last year, and "since that time, he has been in and out of treatment, consisting of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation," spokesman Roger Neal told the U.S. broadcaster.

Travalena appeared regularly on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, entertaining television audiences with his impersonations of such celebrities as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, CNN said.

Neal said Travalena is survived by his wife of 39 years, Lois; sons Fred IV and Cory; daughter-in-law, Kelly; and a granddaughter.