‘Just Shoot Me!’ star George Segal dies, aged 87

American actor George Segal, best known for TV comedy series Just Shoot Me and (most recently) The Goldbergs, has died. He was 87.

The sad news was confirmed by the actor’s wife Sonia Segal, who revealed the star died of complications from bypass surgery.

“The family is devastated to announce that this morning George Segal passed away due to complications from bypass surgery,” she said in a statement, Deadline reports.

American actor Michael McKean, 73, was one of the first to pay tribute, writing on Twitter, “George Segal has gone now. A career that kept going for 50+ because he loved it and he was great at it. RIP.”

Adam F. Goldberg, The Goldberg’s creator, also paid tribute to the star, calling him a “legend”. “Today we lost a legend,” he tweeted. “It was a true honor [sic] being a small part of George Segal’s amazing legacy. By pure fate, I ended up casting the perfect person to play Pops. Just like my grandfather, George was a kid at heart with a magical spark. I think these memories say it all.”

Today we lost a legend. It was a true honor being a small part of George Segal’s amazing legacy. By pure fate, I ended up casting the perfect person to play Pops. Just like my grandfather, George was a kid at heart with a magical spark. I think these memories say it all… pic.twitter.com/D1aNZuT20e

— Adam F. Goldberg (@adamfgoldberg) March 24, 2021

Meanwhile, one fan @smFISHMAN wrote: “RIP George Segal … He was the coolest grandpa. #TheGoldbergs.”

RIP George Segal ..He was the coolest grandpa. #TheGoldbergs pic.twitter.com/m87pmsoXnS

— Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) March 24, 2021

Another fan @acleg10 tweeted: “This makes me so sad. It’s great that he had The Goldbergs to round out his great career.”

While the actor’s most recent role was as grandpa Albert in the hit TV sitcom The Goldbergs, Segal’s big break came in 1966 after he starred in the popular drama-comedy Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. He also starred in Bye Bye Braverman in 1968, Where’s Poppa? in 1970, The Owl and the Pussycat in 1970, and Blume in Love 1973. However, Segal is probably best know for his role as magazine publisher Jack Gallo on NBC’s Just Shoot Me!.

Segal is survived by his wife and two daughters Polly and Elizabeth.