Airman Who Inspired 'Good Morning, Vietnam' Dies at 79

The wife of his stepson confirmed that the former Air Force sergeant died after a long illness.

Adrian Cronauer — whose military radio antics inspired a character played by Robin Williams in the film Good Morning, Vietnam — died on Wednesday. He was 79.

Mary Muse, the wife of his stepson, Michael Muse, confirmed Thursday that Cronauer died after a long illness. He had lived in Troutville, Virginia.

As a U.S. Air Force sergeant in Vietnam in 1965 and 1966, Cronauer opened his Armed Forces Radio show shouting, "Goooooood morning, Vietnam!"

Williams made the refrain famous in the 1987 film, loosely based on Cronauer's time in Saigon.

The son of a steelworker and a schoolteacher, Cronauer was from Pittsburgh and spent 21 years in television, advertising and education before going into law.

He later served as an adviser at the Pentagon.