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Quantum Leap star Dean Stockwell dead age 85

ROSEMONT, IL - AUGUST 11: Dean Stockwell attends Wizard World Chicago Comic Con 2012 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on August 11, 2012 in Rosemont, Illinois. (Photo by Paul Warner/WireImage)
ROSEMONT, IL - AUGUST 11: Dean Stockwell attends Wizard World Chicago Comic Con 2012 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on August 11, 2012 in Rosemont, Illinois. (Photo by Paul Warner/WireImage)

Quantum Leap star Dean Stockwell has died at the age of 85.

The American actor - best known for playing Admiral Al Calavicci in 90s sci fi series Quantum Leap - had an acting career spanning 70 years, including several collaborations with director David Lynch.

A representative for Stockwell told TMZ.com the actor died peacefully at home on Sunday 7th November.

NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 22:
Dean Stockwell and his 'Quantum Leap' co-star Scott Bakula filming a special episode of 'CIS New Orleans' (Getty Images)

The father-of-two starred opposite Scott Bakula in NBC cult series Quantum Leap for five seasons between 1989 and 1993.

Read more: ‘Quantum Leap’s Scott Bakula is Happy Fans Can Finally See Lost Footage of Alternate Ending

He also appeared in the reboot of Battlestar Galactica between 2004 and 2009 and has been a regular at sci fi conventions ever since.

His film roles include Wim Wenders' 1984 movie Paris, Texas, David Lynch's Dune and Blue Velvet, Beverly Hills Cop II and several projects with Francis Ford Coppola.

Born Robert Dean Stockwell in March 1936, Stockwell began his career as a child actor. His first know film appearance was in Valley of Decision in 1945.

(Eingeschränkte Rechte für bestimmte redaktionelle Kunden in Deutschland. Limited rights for specific editorial clients in Germany.) Frank Sinatra   (*12.12.1915-14.05.1998+)  , Schauspieler, Sänger; USA, mit Dean Stockwell in, 'Urlaub in Hollywood'  (Photo by ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Dean Stockwell as a child actor with Frank Sinatra. (Getty Images)

He landed his first on Broadway in 1957 in Compulsion and went on to win the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival starring as Edmund Tyrone in the film adaptation of Long Day's Journey Into The Night.

Stockwell is survived by his wife, Joy Stockwell, and their two children, Austin and Sophie.

Quantum Leap was a TV series about Dr Sam Beckett, a physicist who leaps through spacetime during an experiment in time travel, by temporarily taking the place of other people in order to correct historical mistakes.

Dean Stockwell and Scott Bakula in 'Quantum Leap' (NBCU/Getty Images)
Dean Stockwell and Scott Bakula in 'Quantum Leap' (NBCU/Getty Images)

Stockwell played his friend Al who appears to him as a hologram and tries to help him however he can, whilst often getting distracted by his love a good time.

Tributes have already begun to pour in for Stockwell from fans on social media, with #QuantumLeap trending.

Read more: Quantum Leap - The Show that Deserves a Reboot

Actress Jane Badler, star of sci fi series V wrote: "Loved working with Dean Stockwell on The Snowy River Series. He played a con artist who pretended to be blind. I was his partner in crime .. He was s joy to work with ! R.I.P Mr Rockwell."

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