Jed Allen death: Beverly Hills, 90210 and Columbo star dies aged 84

Beverly Hills, 90210 and Days of Our Lives star Jed Allan has died, aged 84.

The actor’s son Rick Brown broke the news on Saturday, 9 March on Allan’s Facebook fan page. “So sorry to post the very sad news of my father’s passing tonight,” the post reads. “He died peacefully and was surrounded by his family and loved so much by us and so many others.”

Allan was best known for his role as Rush Sanders, the father of Ian Ziering’s Steve Sanders, on Beverly Hills, 90210; Don Craig on Days of Our Lives; and CC Capwell on Santa Barbara.

Born in 1935, Allan attended the University of Washington, where he majored in Drama. His breakthrough role arrived when he joined the cast of General Hospital in 1963, while he also appeared on Lassie as Ranger Scott Turner.

He joined Days of Our Lives in 1971, where he remained for over a decade, before he joined the cast of Santa Barbara in 1986 and remained on the show until 1993. The following year, he was cast in Beverly Hills, 90210.

Ziering paid tribute to the actor on Instagram, writing: “So sad to hear we’ve lost another 90210 classmate. I had the pleasure of working with Jed Allan from 94 to 99. He played Rush Sanders, Steve’s father. Such a great guy to work with, he will be missed.”

Allan’s death comes five days after the passing of fellow 90210 actor Luke Perry, who died on Monday, 4 March at the age of 52.

Santa Barbara star A Martinez also paid tribute to Allen on Instagram. “Jed was a pro’s pro in every sense, and an inspired artist in the moments when the red lights came on — he was fearless, and his work moved millions,” he wrote. “I first met him in the early seventies, when his son Mitch Brown and I were castmates on the TV series, The Cowboys.”

“With his effervescent wife Toby at his side, he quietly asked me to keep a watchful eye out for Mitch, as it was his first gig. Jed was already a star by then, and he was as warm and articulate and charming as anyone I’d ever met. A decade later, when he came to Santa Barbara, the show finally began to find its eventually glorious stride. I LOVED working with him, as did everyone else who got the chance.

“Years later, he visited me backstage during the difficult run of a play I was doing – offered typically generous support – and then spoke of the loss of Toby, the love of his life, who had passed away shortly before, with literally no warning. (It was hard to imagine a human being missing another more…)”

“In my dream, the two of them are dancing together again tonight – a great comfort to all who’ve known and loved them over the years. Condolences now to their wonderful sons, and gratitude to Jed for his unerring joy in the telling of stories, and for offering always the embrace of his massive heart.”

Allan was married to Toby Brown until her death in 2001. He is survived by three sons, according to the Liberty Voice.