Martin Landau, Oscar-winning actor, dies at 89

A publicist for Martin Landau says the Oscar-winning actor and star of the 'Mission: Impossible' TV series has died.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jul 2017, 11:27 BST
Updated 18th Jul 2017, 08:34 BST
Martin Landau, the Oscar-winning actor, has died at the age of 89. Picture: Getty ImagesMartin Landau, the Oscar-winning actor, has died at the age of 89. Picture: Getty Images
Martin Landau, the Oscar-winning actor, has died at the age of 89. Picture: Getty Images

Dick Guttman said Landau died Saturday of unexpected complications during a short stay at UCLA Medical Center.

He had just celebrated his 89th birthday.

Landau was the crafty master of disguise for the TV version of Mission: Impossible, then capped a long and versatile career with an Oscar for his poignant portrayal of ageing horror movie star Bela Lugosi in 1994’s Ed Wood.

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Landau also gained some measure of fame among Star Trek fans for a role he didn’t play, pointy-eared starship Enterprise science officer, Mr. Spock.

Star Trek creator Gene Rodenberry had offered him the role, but Landau turned it down.