Ken Howard, 'White Shadow' star dies at 71

FOX19 - Award winning actor Ken Howard has died at the age of 71. Howard became a household name in the 70's with the show "The White Shadow." Howard played a coach of an inner city basketball team.

The cause of death not yet announced.

The Yale-educated Howard won a Tony in 1970 for his performance in "Child's Play." But his fans best knew him for starring as Ken Reeves, the white basketball on an inner-city Los Angeles school.

The show ran from 1978 to 1981 and was critically acclaimed for its unflinching honesty.. He was in two film that came out last year: "The Wedding Ringer" and "Joy." Howard became the head of the Screen Actors Guild in 2009.

He is survived by his wife and three stepchildren from a previous marriage.