'Deliverance' actor Bill McKinney dead at 80

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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Bill McKinney, an American actor best known for his role in the 1972 film "Deliverance," has died of cancer, a statement on his Facebook page said.

"Today our dear Bill McKinney passed away at Valley Presbyterian Hospice," said the online message posted Thursday.

"An avid smoker for 25 years of his younger life, he died of cancer of the esophagus. He was 80 and still strong enough to have filmed a Doritos commercial 2 weeks prior to his passing, and he continued to work on his biography with his writing partner."

The Tennessee native's film credits include "The Shootist," "Any Which Way You Can," "The Outlaw Josey Wales," "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" and "Cleopatra Jones." He also appeared on TV's "Baywatch," "Hunter," "The Fall Guy" and "Columbo."