Cliff Robertson the Academy Award-winning actor has died aged 88, just one day after his birthday. In a statement, his family confirmed that the much-loved actor had passed away in his New York home owing to natural causes.
Robertson had appeared in over 50 films in a career stretching back to the 1940s, though perhaps his best known roles were in the 60s where he played John F. Kennedy in 1963 flick 'Pt-109' - a film depicting the former US President during his commandment of the torpedo boat Pt-109 in World War Ii - and his 1968 portrayal of a mentally ill bakery worker in 'Charly;' it was the latter that won him the Oscar Award for Best Actor.
In 1977, Robertson triggered a Hollywood scandal after reporting a cheque that had been forged in his name by Columbia Pictures head David Begelman, with authorities going on to discover several other cases of embezzlement in Begelman's name. The incidents led to a blackout for Robertson, though a welcome ascension was made during his later career when appearing as Uncle Ben in the hugely successful 'Spider-Man' trilogy released between 2002 and 2007; the role gained him an entirely new generation of fans.
In a statement reported by Msn, Robertson's daughter Stephanie Saunders commented that "My father was a loving father, devoted friend, dedicated professional and honourable man. He stood by his family, friends, and colleagues through good times and bad. He made a difference in all our lives and made our world a better place. We will all miss him terribly."