LOS ANGELES -- Actor Christopher George, the ruggedly handsome star of the popular 1960s television series 'The Rat Patrol,' and a leading man in numerous TV and film projects, has died of a heart attack. He was 52.
George suffered a massive heart attack at his home early Monday and died at Westside Hospital early Tuesday. He is survived by two children and his wife, actress Lynda Day George, one of the stars of the old 'Mission Impossible' television series.
The actor was best known as Sgt. Sam Troy of television's 'Rat Patrol,' a series that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1968 about a group of American and English commandos battling German Gen. Irwin Rommel's Afrika Corps in World War II.
In his only other series, 'The Immortal,' George portrayed a race car driver who had antibodies in his blood that made him immune to disease or aging. The 1969 ABC series was less successful than 'Rat Patrol,' lasting only one year.
He was scheduled to start work Friday on 'The Intruders,' a feature-length film. George's better-known films included 'The Gentle Rain,' 'El Dorado,' 'In Harm's Way,' 'The Delta Factor' and 'Chisum.'
George was born Feb. 24, 1931 in Royal Oak, Mich., of Greek parents and acted in Greek tragedies as a youth. He grew up in Miami and quit high school to enlist in the Marines, serving as a crewman on rescue missions flying wounded soldiers out of Korea.
After military service, George went to the University of Miami, graduating in 1958 with a degree in finance. He then worked a series of odd jobs with a private detective agency, a Caribbean cargo boat and Florida tent shows.
George made his acting debut on the New York stage with Hugh O'Brian in 'Mr. Roberts.' He then moved to television, obtaining roles in primetime series like 'The Defenders' and 'Bewitched' and in daytime soap operas.
His career took off after he made a 60-second TV commercial for shaving cream and won the New York Film Festival Award for best actor in a commercial.
He was then cast in 'The Gentle Rain,' his first feature film. He also appeared with John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in 'El Dorado,' and in the movies 'Tiger by the Tail,' 'I Escaped from Devil's Island' and 'Grizzly.'
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
