Beloved U.S. Tv star Lou Myers has died following heart surgery in West Virginia.

The star of The Cosby Show spin-off A Different World star passed away at the Charleston Medical Center on Tuesday night (19Feb13), aged 77.

Myers played Mr. Vernon Gaines on the hit 80s comedy.

The actor was hospitalised in January (13) after collapsing at his home.

Tmz.com reports Myers fell into a coma on Tuesday and was declared dead hours later.

He also appeared in the films Volcano, Tin Cup, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back.