BALTIMORE, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Former Baltimore Colts defensive tackle and and television personality Art Donovan has died at age 89, the Baltimore Ravens announced Sunday.
"Rest in peace to Baltimore Colts legend Art Donovan. Great player and wonderful person," the team wrote on its Twitter account.
He died died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium, Md., The Baltimore Sun reported.
Donovan, who spent 12 years with the Colts, was selected to four All-NFL teams (1954-1957) and appeared in five consecutive Pro Bowls (1953-1957). He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968 -- the first pure defensive lineman to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
As well as a standout player, Donovan also excelled as humorous storyteller and raconteur, making many appearances on television talks shows such as "Late Night with David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" following the publication of his autobiography "Fatso" in 1987.
"I guess telling stories is an art. I never looked at it that way," he once told the newspaper. "I just started talking, and everyone started laughing. So I kept talking, and they kept laughing."
He is survived by his wife Dorothy, a son, four daughters and seven grandchildren.
