For 12 years, the New York-born comedian and broadcaster played the wishy washy liberal who appeared daily alongside the blustering conservative bruiser of Sean Hannity, the co-host of Hannity & Colmes, which ran between 1996 to 2009. Mr Colmes was frequently the target of Mr Hannity’s ire.

On Thursday, it was announced that Mr Colmes had died at the age of 66 after a short illness, and Hr Hannity was among those to pay tribute to his former colleague.

“He was one of life’s most decent, kind and wonderful people you’d ever want to meet,” Mr Hannity said in a statement.

Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer had first announced the news during the morning's broadcast.

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“We have, yet again, some sad news to report here at the Fox News Channel,” said Mr Hemmer.

“Fox News contributor and frequent guest here in America’s Newsroom, Alan Colmes, has passed away.”

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Fox spokeswoman Dana Klinghoffer also confirmed his death. Fox also aired a statement from his family saying that he had died on Thursday morning, and asked for privacy. Mr Colmes is survived by his wife, Jocelyn Elise Crowley.

Mr Colmes was a New York City native who worked for years in radio and stand-up comedy before joining Fox in 1996.