Jack Klugman, who made an art of gruffness in TV's The Odd Couple and Quincy, M.E., has died aged 90, in Los Angeles.

In the 1970s sitcom The Odd Couple, Klugman played sports writer Oscar and was an idealistic, tough-minded medical examiner in Quincy, M.E., which aired from 1976 to 1983.

Klugman lost his voice to throat cancer in the 1980s but trained himself to speak again.

Charles Durning, dubbed the king of the character actors, has also died, at his New York home, aged 89.

Durning played every-one from blustering officials to Big Daddy in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on Broadway which won him a Tony in 1990.

He was twice nominated for an Oscar, for 1982's The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas and Mel Brooks's To Be Or Not To Be.