Tom Bosley, best known as Howard Cunningham on 'Happy Days,' has died at the age of 83.

According to TMZ, family members reported that Bosley died after a staph infection. Bosley's agent, Sheryl Abrams, told the Associated Press that Bosley suffered from heart failure at 4AM Tuesday in a hospital near his Palm Springs home and that he was also battling lung cancer.

Over five decades, the actor appeared in a range of TV shows and specials, movies, commercials and Broadway productions, but he was most famous as the stern, loving TV dad, Mr. Cunningham.

Mr. C -- as the Fonz called him -- was the quintessential sitcom dad that everyone wanted for their own. He made the top 10 of TV Squad's best TV dads ever.

His 'Happy Days' co-stars paid tribute to Bosley's sterling character.

"Tom's insight, talent, strength of character and comic timing made him a vital central figure in the 'Happy Days' experience," said a statement from Ron Howard, who played Richie Cunningham. "A great father and husband, and a wonderful artist, Tom led by example, and made us all laugh while he was doing it. "My last conversations with Tom reflected the love of life and peace of mind that he always maintained throughout his full and rewarding life. I miss him already."

Bosley's TV wife, Marion Ross, told the AP, "He was so smart he could fix the end of a joke or a scene on the spot. We made a perfect couple. I played picolo to his tuba."

"Tom Bosley was our mentor," said Henry "The Fonz" Winkler told TMZ. "He was a true artist ... he will be sorely missed, but never forgotten."



After serving in the Navy during World War II, Bosley got into acting during his time at DePaul University. He went on to perform alongside Paul Newman at the Woodstock Opera House in 1949 and 1950.

Bosley got his start in television on a telecast of an 'Alice in Wonderland' production in 1955. The actor found success on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his portrayal of Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 'Fiorello!' He also appeared in films, starring opposite Natalie Wood in 'Love With the Proper Stranger.'

After playing Mr. Cunningham on 'Happy Days,' Bosley starred as the titular character on 'Father Dowling Mysteries' and as Sheriff Amos Tupper on 'Murder, She Wrote.'

Throughout his career, Bosley used his warm, resonant tone to narrate specials and provide the voices for animated characters including David from the popular series 'David the Gnome.' In 2005, Bosley voiced Mr. Cunningham in the animated comedy 'Family Guy.'

His last credited film role was in this year's romantic comedy, 'The Back-Up Plan.'

Bosley's death comes just after another TV icon, Barbara Billingsley, passed away. It's been a sad time for the television industry and fans, after the recent deaths of people like Stephen J. Cannell, Tony Curtis, Gloria Stuart, Harold Gould, and Kevin McCarthy.