Grizzly Adams Star Dan Haggerty Dies Aged 74

Dan Haggerty, the star of 1970s hit television series The Life And Times Of Grizzly Adams, has died at the age of 74.

The actor lost his battle with spine cancer early on Friday at a medical centre surrounded by his family in Burbank, California, according to his manager Terry Bomar.

Mr Bomar told Fox News: "He had cancer and had been fighting since July, and he had a great Thanksgiving and a great Christmas, and he died with his kids around him and people who love him."

Haggerty starred as gentle giant California mountain man James Capen "Grizzly" Adams, who adopts an orphaned bear.

The surprise box office hit movie spawned a TV series of the same name, which ran for two seasons on NBC from 1977 to 1978.

The Wisconsin-born actor returned as the character in a 1981 movie and in a telefilm a year later.

His family had been using a crowdfunding site to raise money for his medical bills, pulling in $10,500 of a $100,000 goal.

Haggerty appeared on other TV shows, including Charlie's Angels in 1981 and The Love Boat in 1983.

But as the roles dried up, he was arrested in 1985 after selling cocaine to undercover police officers.

Haggerty almost died in a 1993 motorcycle accident that forced him to undergo nearly 20 operations.

His wife of over 20 years, Samantha Haggerty, was killed in a motorbike crash in 2008 when she hit a deer.

Haggerty reprised his most famous role in the 1997 movie Grizzly Mountain and a 2000 sequel.

He is survived by his five children, Megan, Dylan, Cody, Tracey and Don.