Actor Tab hunter dies at 86

American actor Tab Hunter, who played the chiseled 1950s heartthrob in 'Damn Yankees!' has died at the age of 86.

Describing the death as 'unexpected and sudden', his partner, Allan Glaser, told The Hollywood Reporter that Hunter died in Santa Barbara from a blood clot that then caused a heart attack.

Hunter starred in more than 40 films and was a well-known Hollywood star of the 1950s and 1960s.

His first role was a minor part in a film noir, 'The Lawless' (1950).

His breakthrough role came when he was cast as the young Marine Danny in 1955's World War II drama 'Battle Cry'.

It was based on a bestseller by Leon Uris and became Warner Bros largest grossing film of that year.

Apart from being an actor, Hunter was also a pop singer, film producer, and author.

He also received strong critical acclaim for a performance he gave on TV in 'Forbidden Area', the debut show of Playhouse 90, written by Rod Serling and directed by John Frankenheimer.