MIDDLETON - Oscar-winning actor George Kennedy died Sunday in Middleton, the Canyon County Coroner's Office confirmed Monday.
Kennedy died at The Cottages from a heart condition, the coroner said. He was 91.
Kennedy became an iconic figure during his decades-long career on the big and small screen.
He won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in "Cool Hand Luke," and he also appeared in 1970s disaster movies including "Airport" and 1974's "Earthquake."
Kennedy gained late-career fame for his comedic turns in "The Naked Gun" movies.
Kennedy and his wife later moved to Eagle where he spent the final years of his life in the Treasure Valley.
Kennedy's grandson Cory Schenkel told USA TODAY that Kennedy died in his sleep.
Schenkel said Kennedy continued to work on films even after joining his extended family in Eagle - where his Oscar sat on the fireplace mantle in the living room. Schenkel joined Kennedy on the set for his last role in The Gambler alongside Mark Wahlberg in 2014.
"Every time he did a movie in the last 15 years he would say he was retiring afterwards," said Schenkel. "And then another opportunity would come up and he would take it. My grandfather loved making movies that much."
