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Van Williams, 'Green Hornet' star dies at 82

By Wade Sheridan

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Van Williams, the actor best known for his role as the Green Hornet, has died at the age of 82 on Nov. 28.

"He had a wonderful, caring, and kind heart," his wife Vicki Williams said in a statement to Variety announcing his death.

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"He was a wonderful husband, he was a fabulous father, and a devoted grandfather," she continued.

Williams died due to kidney failure at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. Vicki also mentioned that the television star only had one kidney since he was 25.

Williams famously portrayed crimefighter The Green Hornet and his newspaper editor alter ego Britt Reid on the memorable but short lived 1966 series The Green Hornet alongside Bruce Lee as his highly-skilled partner Kato.

Based on a radio serial from the 1930's, The Green Hornet would be adapted into a film in 2011 starring Seth Rogen and Jay Chou. Williams did not have a cameo in the film as he "wanted nothing to do with that movie," according to his wife.

Williams got his start in acting in 1959 as Ken Madison in Bourbon Street Beat. He would play the character again in another series Surfside 6.

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He also made appearances in shows such as The Beverly Hillbillies, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Westwind before retiring from acting and becoming a reserve deputy sheriff and a volunteer fire fighter at the Malibu station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Williams is also survived by his three children Nina, Tia and Britt and five grandchildren.

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