Ray Walston

American actor who became most noted for the TV sitcom series "My Favorite Martian." With a naughty pixie face and sly, sardonic wit, he was known to four generations of theater-goers. His two dozen films included "South Pacific" and "Damn Yankees." For the stage production of the latter, he won a Tony. At 78, Walston was still putting in a fine performance on the TV series "Picket Fences." He won two Emmys for his role as the cranky judge.

Raised in New Orleans, the son of a night watchman, Walston had a childhood of poverty. He married a local actress, Ruth Calvert and both joined the Cleveland Playhouse, then moved on to New York City. His break came in the Broadway cast of "South Pacific," followed by good parts on stage, then TV, then movies. In 1992, he and Ruth had been married 50 years, living in a modest condo in Beverly Hills. Their daughter Kate was 37, the mother of their two grandkids.

In his late 70s, Walston maintained a low-fat diet and biked ten miles a day to keep in shape.

He died at age 86 from natural causes on 1 January 2001 at his home in Beverly Hills, California.