SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA: Frederic Forrest who played memorable roles as Chef Hicks in 1979 film 'Apocalypse Now' and earned an Oscar nomination for 'The Rose' in the same year died at the age of 86. The exact cause of Forrest's death is not known yet, however, his friends suggested he was ill for a long time.

Forrest died in Santa Monica on Friday, his friend actor Barry Primus told the Holly Wood Reporter. Primus revealed Forrest died after a "long illness."

'He was a remarkable actor'

Similarly, on Twitter, Forrest's co-star in the 1976 film 'The Rose', Bette Midler, 77, while paying tributes wrote on Twitter, 'The great and beloved Frederic Forrest has died. Thank you to all of his fans and friends for all their support these last few months,' she wrote. "He was a remarkable actor, and a brilliant human being, and I was lucky to have him in my life. He was at peace." Forrest who received his only Acadamy Award nomination in the best supporting category was the acclaimed film 'The Rose'. Midler who had her screen debut in the movie won her best actress nomination.

Who is Marilu Henner?

Even though Forrest had appeared in movies and on television since the middle of the 1960s, it wasn't until 1972's 'When The Legends Die' that he really started to get noticed. He was nominated for a Golden Globe as the most promising rookie, and soon after, he was cast in roles with more notoriety. Forrest had major leads and supporting roles in several movies which included classics like 'The Conversation' (1974), 'Apocalypse Now' (1979) and 'One From The Heart' (1981) directed by Ford Coppola.

Forrest got divorced twice with his most recent wife being 'Between the Lines' star Marilu Henner who were married from 1980 to 1982. His first wife was Nancy Ann Whittaker who Forrest divorced after three years of marriage in 1963, Daily Mail reported.

'I never stopped caring about people I once loved'

Reflecting on her past relationships, Henner, the 'Taxi Driver' star once told People in 2022, "One of my marriages was all heat. The other one was all vision.'" Brown was Henner's third husband after Frederic Forrest and Robert Lieberman. Henner in the interview detailed her now husband, "My husband and I are hot for each other. Even when I'm mad at him, I still think he's sexy." Henner shared that she stays close to her former lovers which include John Travolta and Tony Danza. "Sometimes when a relationship ends, it's hard not to look back and think, 'I'd like to stay close.' I never stopped caring about people I once loved."

Henner played single mother in 'Taxi'

Henner rose to fame playing the single mother and cab driver Elaine Nardo in the situation comedy 'Taxi.' She had aspirations of becoming an artist. She played the major role in the 1982 Wim Wenders-produced and Francis Ford Coppola-directed film Hammett, which also starred her first husband Frederic Forrest.