Tony Randall, the Emmyaward winning comedian and star of stage, cinema and television who won acclaimfor roles in Pillow Talk and No Down Payment, has died aged 84.

Randall, who will perhapsbe best remembered for such television hits as One Man's Family, MrPeepers and The Tony Randall Show, passed away in his sleep at NYU MedicalCentre due to complications from a prolonged illness.

He was born in Tulsa,Oklahoma, on Feb 26, 1920, and eventually left home to study speech and dramaat the Northwestern University, Columbia University and the NeighbourhoodPlayhouse.

Randall demonstrateddramatic acting chops opposite Joanne Woodward in the 1957 relationship dramaNo Down Payment and his other key credits include the 1960 comedy musicalLet's Make Love opposite Marilyn Monroe, playing Hercule Poirotin 1965's The Alphabet Murders and starring with Doris Day and RockHudson in Pillow Talk in 1959.