Longtime TV personality and children's entertainer Frank Avruch, best known for playing Bozo the Clown, is dead at age 89.

WCVB-TV reports Avruch died Tuesday at his home in Boston from heart disease. He is survived by his wife, Betty, two sons and several grandchildren.

Avruch portrayed Bozo the Clown from 1959 to 1970, and was the first to play the nationally syndicated version of the character in the '60s. The clown character, also played by Bob Bell, Larry Harmon and Joey D'Auria, grew in popularity during Avruch's run thanks to widespread franchising in television.

Newsweek reports Harmon, one of the original actors to play Bozo, purchased the rights to the character and began syndicating the series as "Bozo the Clown."

Avruch first played the iconic clown in a local Boston series, "Bozo's Circus," before taking on the role nationally.

"He touched so many people with his portrayal" of Bozo, manager Stuart Hersh told The Associated Press. "He had a heart of gold. He brought the Bozo the Clown character to life better than anyone else's portrayal of Bozo the Clown."

According to the AP, Avruch also contributed to WCVB-TV for more than 40 years as a host of "Man About Town" and "The Great Entertainment." He was also involved in philanthropy and served as a board member of UNICEF'S New England chapter.

"While it's hard to say goodbye, we celebrate the legacy of joy and laughter he brought to millions of children around the world as Bozo the Clown on TV and as a UNICEF Ambassador and later as host of Channel 5's Great Entertainment and Boston's Man About Town," Avruch's family said in a statement to WCVB. "Our dad loved the children of all ages who remembered being on his show and was always grateful for their kind words. We will miss him greatly."