Martin Milner | 'Route 66,' 'Adam-12' star, 83

Martin Milner, 83, whose wholesome good looks helped make him the star of two hugely popular 1960s TV series,

Route 66

and

Adam-12

, died Sunday in Carlsbad, Calif. His

Adam-12

costar Kent McCord, who spoke to Mr. Milner's children, said the family is doing well, but gave no other details.

Mr. Milner, who began his acting career as a teen, shot to fame in 1960 with costar George Maharis in the TV drama Route 66, in which the two played restless young men roaming the country in a Corvette convertible.

In 1968, Mr. Milner signed on to Jack Webb's police series Adam-12, as a veteran assisted by a rookie played by McCord.

"I had a long, long friendship with Marty and we remained friends up till the end," McCord said Monday. "He was one of the really true great people of our industry with a long, distinguished career. . . . He was one of the great guys. I was lucky to have him in my life."

Mr. Milner appeared in numerous TV guest roles and in films including Marjorie Morningstar, Sweet Smell of Success, and Valley of the Dolls.

Mr. Milner was born in Detroit in 1931 and grew up in Seattle, where he acted in local plays. When his family moved to Los Angeles, he found jobs in movies, notably in his film debut in 1947's Life With Father.

After finishing the film, he was stricken with polio and spent a year in bed. He recovered and enrolled at the University of Southern California, but dropped out to pursue his acting career.

He married actress-singer Judy Jones in 1957. - AP