Ken Howard, 'White Shadow' star and actors union president, dead at 71

LOS ANGELES -- Ken Howard, who played basketball coach Ken Reeves in the 1978-81 CBS drama The White Shadow and was president of the actors union SAG-AFTRA, has died. He was 71.

SAG-AFTRA confirmed Howard's death on its website Wednesday. From the union's statement:

Ken was an accomplished actor, author, teacher and unionist whose steady leadership as president of Screen Actors Guild positioned him to guide the union’s historic 2012 merger with American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. In addition to his many professional credits, awards and other laudatory work, he led the union for nearly seven years and was devoted to the interests of its membership.

Howard, held the SAG-AFTRA presidency from 2009 until his death, took home a Tony for Best Supporting Actor in a Play for Child's Play in 1970 and played Thomas Jefferson in the 1972 musical film 1776. 

But he's be best remembered -- as an actor, at least -- as Ken Reeves, the former Chicago Bulls player whose injury-shortened career led him to coach basketball at a South Central Los Angeles high school.

THE WHITE SHADOW. An episodic scene, featuring Ken Howard (as coach Ken Reeves). Image dated 1979. Copyright CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Credit: CBS Photo Archive. Code: 12 Credit: Getty Images

Howard's legacy, however, will be his two terms as SAG-AFTRA president, during which he advocated for and later oversaw the merger of the competing actors' unions.

He is survived by his wife, former stuntwoman Linda Fetters.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.