'L.A. Law' star Richard Dysart dies at 86

Richard Dysart, known and loved by all L.A. Law fans as Leland McKenzie, has died after a long illness. He was 86.

Dysart died Sunday at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., his publicist Jeannine Jacobi tells AP.

Dysart was always calm, cool and smart as he played the head of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak law firm in the 1986-94 series produced by Steven Bochco. He was nominated for four supporting actor Emmys in a row for his L.A. Law role before he finally won the trophy in 1992.

Dysart, who got his start in radio before moving on to Broadway, TV and film work, had a long and multifaceted career.

His Broadway credits included 1965's All in Good Time and 1967's The Little Foxes, directed by Mike Nichols. He won a Drama Desk Award in 1972 for his role as Coach in That Championship Season.

According to IMDB.com, among his many film appearances he twice played Harry Truman, twice played J. Edgar Hoover and twice played Dwight D. Eisenhower.

He and his third wife, artist Kathryn Jacobi, married in 1987.