Actor Edward Woodward, who clocked up more than 2,000 television appearances, has died at the age of 79.

Best known for his roles in occult classic The Wicker Man and as a former spy in television hit The Equalizer, Woodward had been suffering from various illnesses, including pneumonia.

His agent Janet Glass confirmed the star died in a hospital in Cornwall yesterday and praised his “brave spirit and wonderful humour”.

The Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor was also described as “one of the greatest actors of his generation”.

Woodward's breakthrough came in the 1960s and early 1970s in the spy series Callan — which was seen as TV's answer to James Bond.

One of his most celebrated roles was in the 1973 film The Wicker Man in which he played a devout Christian police officer who meets an horrific end after being drawn into investigating the disappearance of a young girl in a sinister community.

The Wicker Man also starred Sir Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland.

Sir Christopher described Woodward as “a very good friend and a splendid actor”.

Robin Hardy, who directed The Wicker Man, said of Woodward: “He was one of the greatest actors of his generation, without any question, with a broad career on American television as well as British film.”

Woodward sealed his international success in the 1980s in the hit US TV series The Equalizer playing a former spy turned gun-for-hire.

He recently joined EastEnders for a short stint as Tommy Clifford, who drew out details of Patrick Trueman's past.

Woodward lived in the Padstow area of Cornwall with his wife, actress Michele Dotrice, who played Frank Spencer's long-suffering wife Betty in the classic sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.

He recently said that as well as working on an autobiography he had been spending time painting watercolours, adding modestly: “I am not very good at it, but my friends and family all get a copy.”

Woodward's acting career spanned theatre, TV and movies, but perhaps what is less well-known is that he also recorded more than 10 solo albums — and has three gold discs to his name.

His film appearances include roles in A Christmas Carol, Merlin And The Sword, The Young Winston, The Champions, Who Dares Wins and Uncle Tom's Cabin. He appeared most recently in the police movie send-up Hot Fuzz, starring Simon Pegg, and A Congregation Of Ghosts, currently in post-production.