Eric “The Actor” Lynch, the diminutive member of Howard Stern’s “Wack Pack” who for years launched into comical, frequently foul-mouthed rants during calls to Stern’s radio show, died Sept. 19 at a hospital in Sacramento. He was 39.

A longtime friend, Johnny Fratto, confirmed the death. Mr. Lynch, who was just 3 feet tall and used a wheelchair to get around, had suffered for years from height-related health problems. He said doctors had told his parents that he probably wouldn’t live past the age of 14.

“I loved Eric. I truly loved him,” Stern said Monday on his radio show. “What I loved about him was here was this guy afflicted with every . . . thing on the planet. You couldn’t have gotten worse luck dealt to you, and Eric didn’t view it that way.”

Mr. Lynch, a serious “American Idol” fan, first called Stern 12 years ago to complain angrily that the shock jock had ridiculed contestant Kelly Clarkson’s appearance.

As the calls persisted — many of them foul-mouthed, insulting rants directed at Stern — an unlikely friendship blossomed between the two.

Eric Lynch in 2013. (Jonny Fratto/AP)

Stern, meanwhile, gave as good as he got. He tried to persuade Mr. Lynch to let himself be attached to balloons so he could hover over the recording studio. Another time, he took part in a prank to convince Mr. Lynch that werewolves really did exist in New Mexico, where Stern was sending him for a small part in a TV show.

Like other members of Stern’s Wack Pack of oddball callers and in-studio guests, Mr. Lynch landed several TV roles over the years. His credits included “In Plain Sight,” “Fringe” and “American Dream,” and he was a guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“I think the fact that Eric had no respect for you whatsoever was what I liked about him,” Kimmel told Stern during Monday’s show.

Mr. Lynch, who lived in Sacramento, is survived by his parents and a brother.

— Associated Press