Miguel Ferrer, who was best known for playing Owen Granger on NCIS: Los Angeles, has passed away aged 61.

The Crossing Jordan star had been battling cancer when he died, surrounded by family and close friends, on Thursday.

Miguel's cousin George Clooney paid tribute to the veteran actor saying in a statement: 'Today history will mark giant changes in our world, and lost to most will be that on the same day Miguel Ferrer lost his battle to throat cancer. But not lost to his family,'

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Loss: Miguel Ferrer has passed away age 61 after a battle with cancer, Deadline reports

Clooney continued: 'Miguel made the world brighter and funnier and his passing is felt so deeply in our family that events of the day, (monumental events), pale in comparison,

'We love you Miguel. We always will.'

In a statement NCIS: Los Angeles showrunner R. Scott Gemmill said: 'Today, NCIS: Los Angeles lost a beloved family member,

'Miguel was a man of tremendous talent who had a powerful dramatic presence on screen, a wicked sense of humor, and a huge heart. Our thoughts go out to his wife Lori, his sons, and his entire family. He will be greatly missed.'

Ferrer's career spanned four decades beginning with small parts in shows such as Magnum, P.I., CHiPS and Cagney & Lacey.

'We love you Miguel. We always will.' Shortly after the news of Miguel's death, his cousin George Clooney paid tribute to the actor. George is pictured with his aunt Rosemary Clooney (Miguel's mother) in 1998

Fan favourite: Ferrer had played Owen Granger on NCIS: Los Angeles since 2012

In 2001 the Santa Monica native starred in NBC drama Crossing Jordan opposite Jill Hennessy, which remained on the air until 2007.

He landed a part in Twin Peaks in 1990 and was set to reprise his role as the FBI forensic pathologist Albert Rosenfield in the 2017 Showtime revival of the show which premieres May 21.

There were rumours circulating online this week that Ferrer had suffered a stroke after alarmed fans noticed him slurring his speech in recent episodes of NCIS.

Gone too soon: Fans were getting concerned that Ferrer's character was about to be killed off after he was stabbed in Sunday's episode

Much loved: Ferrer is survived by wife Lori, sons Lukas and Rafi and his brothers and sisters

And sources close to the CBS show also claimed that his character was about to be killed off in the current season eight.

Granger was stabbed while in police custody in Sunday's episode, part of an ongoing mole-hunt storyline.

Ferrer was also an accomplished drummer and toured with his mother and Bing Crosby and recorded with the Who’s Keith Moon before beginning his acting career.

Ferrer is survived by wife Lori, sons Lukas and Rafi and his brothers and sisters.

He was the eldest of five children of late Oscar-winning actor Jose Ferrer and late singer Rosemary Clooney.

Rosemary's brother Nick is George's father.

'He made the world brighter and funnier': Miguel and George are pictured at an event in 2002



