Spencer Milligan from 70s sci-fi TV series Land of the Lost dies aged 86-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Land of the Lost star Spencer Milligan has died (Picture: NBC Universal)

Land of the Lost star Spencer Milligan has died.

The actor, who starred as Rick Marshall in the first two seasons of the 1970s kids TV show, died aged 86.

His onscreen son Wesley Eure, who played Will on the American programme, paid tribute to Milligan on Facebook, writing in a post on behalf of co-stars Kathy Coleman and Phillip Paley, who played Holly and Cha-Ka respectively.

He said: ‘Kathy, Phil and I are heartbroken to announce our dear friend and TV dad, Spencer Milligan, has died.

‘We heard rumors but today we got the sad confirmation.

‘For many of us, and Spencer’s many fans, he was the perfect dad. We loved his kindness, talent and huge sense of humor.

‘We are just processing this news and will post more in the coming days.

‘Our hearts go out to his lovely wife and Spencer’s many friends and family.

His co-stars including Kathy Coleman and Wesley Eure have paid tribute (Picture: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Milligan played Park Ranger Rick Marshall (Picture: Ron Tom/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

‘He was a very private man who lived a wonderful life away from the world of Hollywood.

‘Our loss is great…. Rest in peace my dear, dear Papa!’

Fans also paid tribute in the comments, with Bob writing: ‘So very sorry for yours and the world’s loss. Love out to his family and friends.

‘Though I have a wonderful father, every Saturday when I was 7 I would pretend he was my dad and I was the third child, exploring with you all.

‘I was so happy to see Spencer reunite with you guys at that show recently and wished I could have been there. Love you all very much and sending you all my hugs.’

Fans of Land of the Lost paid tribute to the late star (Picture: NBC Universal)

Darlene added: ‘Thank you for sharing this. It is sad news indeed. I was most interested in reading his obituary, his long list of endeavors in the acting industry, yet I am most interested in that he married the love-of-his life late-in-life and enjoyed life with her to the end. That’s what it’s all about. My deepest condolences to her.’

Following his stint on sci-fi series Land of the Lost, which saw Rick and his kids Will and Holly transformed into an alternate world ruled by dinosaurs and attempt to find their way home, Milligan appeared in other TV programmes, guest-starring on the likes of Alice, The Bionic Woman, Gunsmoke and The Dukes of Hazzard.

He also had a seven-episode arc on General Hospital in 1987, before moving away from TV and into teaching and directing.

He is survived by his wife, who meeting he described as ‘the defining moment of his life’, according to his obituary, and three godchildren.

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