WBRZ - Baton Rouge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Actor Lou Myers, best known for his role as Mr. Gaines on the television series "A Different World," has died.

Tonia McDonald of Myers' nonprofit, Global Business Incubation Inc., says Myers died Tuesday night at Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia. He was 76.

McDonald said Myers had been in-and-out of the hospital since before Christmas and collapsed recently. She says an autopsy was planned.

A native of Chesapeake, W.Va., Myers had returned to the state and lived in the Charleston area.

His TV credits included "NYPD Blue," ''E.R.," ''The Cosby Show," and ''Touched by an Angel".

He also appeared in a number of films, including "Tin Cup" and "The Wedding Planner."