Mike Connors, TV Detective On ‘Mannix,’ Dies At 91 From Leukemia

Mike Connors, best known for his role as detective Joe Mannix on the 1960s show Mannix, died Thursday in Tarzana, California.

His son-in-law said the actor had been diagnosed just a week ago with leukemia, and passed away from complications of the disease. Connors was 91.

Mannix was a detective TV series that ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS, and starred the title character, Joe Mannix, as a private investigator. The series ran for eight seasons, throughout which the Mannix character suffered a slew of injuries, including 17 gunshot wounds and 55 beatings. Connors won a Golden Globe for his performance as a tough investigator who insisted on doing things his way, which often led to him getting beat up in the process.

Connors made a guest appearance on Two and a Half Men in 2007, and appeared on other TV series such as Murder, She Wrote, Love Boat and Walker, Texas Ranger.

Connors was born in Fresno, California, and played basketball at UCLA, where he was nicknamed “Touch.” He started appearing in TV series in the early 1960s, on shows like Tightrope!, and later, on Today’s F.B.I.

The actor is survived by his Mary Lou, daughter Dena, and granddaughter Cooper.