HE WAS known as Mr Telethon for his unfailing support for the children's charity, but Perth last night lost veteran television and radio personality Peter Dean, who died aged 74.

Mr Dean's career in broadcasting spanned more than five decades and included Channel 7 and radio stations 6IX and 6PR.

But it was for his tireless work with Telethon that he was perhaps best known.

Mr Dean died after battling motor neurone disease.

His former co-host on 6IX's record-breaking morning show in the 1960s and 1970s, John Fryer, 79, said his friend would be remembered for his roles with Telethon and the Logie-winning program, Anything Goes.

Mr Fryer told PerthNow he went on a cruise with Mr Dean and their wives recently after he heard his former colleague "wasn't travelling so well''.

"It was just to have a reunion and it was great,'' Mr Fryer said.

"He started to come out of his shell and he started to be like the Peter Dean I knew of old.''

Together the two men had hosted a hit breakfast radio show on 6IX which ran for a record breaking 16 years.

Mr Fryer said Mr Dean was "just a great guy''.

"He was one of the boys,'' he said. ``He always had that great showbusiness blood in him.''

Mr Fryer said his friend would do anything to raise money for Telethon.

In the 60s they hosted the midnight to dawn shift on the television fundraiser.

"We were a bit naughty -- we had strippers on and a few things that people seemed to enjoy,'' Mr Fryer said.

"Peter would do anything... rip his shirt off... but then Peter was that sort of guy. If it was fun, he was in it.''

In a statement today, Channel Seven Perth managing director Mario D'Orazio paid tribute to Mr Dean.

"Deano was a classic entertainer, always ready with a quip, always ready to ad lib out of danger and sometimes into danger! There was never a dull a moment,'' Mr D'Orazio said.

"He set the standard for live performance in WA, and he had an enormous heart, being a key star of Telethon for many, many years.

"We'll miss him dearly.''

Mr Dean is survived by his wife, Delys, and their four children.