Character Actor Chaykin Dies On 61st Birthday

American/Canadian actor MAURY CHAYKIN has died on his 61st birthday.

The rotund character actor, best known for his role in Entourage, died in Toronto, Canada on Tuesday (27Jul10). He was believed to have been battling a kidney ailment.

Appearing in dozens of movies and TV shows since beginning his career in 1975, Chaykin became recognisable for his larger-than-life characters, appearing in Dances With Wolves, My Cousin Vinny, The Mask of Zorro and A Life Less Ordinary.

He found new fame playing Harvey Weingard - a parody of producer Harvey Weinstein - in hit TV show Entourage between 2005 and 2007.

Chaykin is survived by his actress wife Susannah Hoffmann and a daughter, Rose.