2009-04-20 19:54:17 -
American actor JODY MCCREA has died of cardiac arrest. He was 74.
McCrea, who appeared in over 90 films during his career, died on 4 April (09) in New Mexico - where he worked as a cattle rancher.
The son of movie stars Joel McCrea and Frances Dee, he began acting on the 1960 TV western Wichita Town with his father.
He became best-known for acting in the Beach Party movies of the decade, in which he co-starred with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon.
McCrea also acted in numerous film and television productions before his retirement in 1970 - including 1962 movie The Broken Land, co-starring Jack Nicholson, and small screen appearances on Wagon Train, Vacation Playhouse and The Greatest Show on Earth.
His wife, Dusty, died in 1996.