Randy Boone, star of the "The Virginian," has died at the age of 83.

His wife, Lana, told The Hollywood Reporter he had died on Thursday, August 28, but did not wish to disclose further details.

Born on January 17, 1942 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Boone is being remembered by fans online for performing his own songs on "The Virginian" and riding his personal horse, Clyde, on the show.

Boone joined the cast of the series in February 1964 during the second season and remained for two years, appearing in 46 episodes alongside James Drury and Doug McClure before leaving in April 1966.

Apart from his acting, Boone had also been musically inclined from an early age.

He once described his restless youth, saying, "I'm going to take my guitar and I'm going to hitchhike around the country and have some fun until the Army drafts me and then I'll let them beat some discipline into me. I couldn't wait to get out of school and have a good time."

After travelling the United States for 18 months, Boone secured a contract with Universal Studios.

His first television role was Vern Hodges, a folk-singing student in "It's a Man's World," which lasted one season.

When the show was cancelled, he and Clyde were absorbed into the cast of "The Virginian."

Boone agreed to allow Universal to use his horse free of charge if the studio boarded the animal, a request the producers accepted.

During his run on the series, the actor performed original songs, many of which he wrote himself.

"I wanted to feel like I'm putting something special into the work," he said of the decision.

Beyond "The Virginian," Boone made appearances in the western "Cimarron Strip" and in "The Twilight Zone," where he played a National Guardsman transported back to the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

He stepped away from acting in the late 1980s and went on to work in construction, and had his songs released on records including "Ramblin' Randy."