Peter Scolari dead: Girls star who played Lena Dunham's dad dies after cancer battle

Actor Peter Scolari, known for playing the father of Lena Dunham's character in Girls, has died at the age of 66 following a cancer battle

Actor Peter Scolari has died following a cancer battle.

The Girls star, who played the father of Lena Dunham's character, was 66.

He appeared in the show alongside Lena's character Hannah Horvath from 2012 to 2017.

His sad passing was confirmed today in a statement from his manager Ellen Lubin Sanitsky.

Peter had been diagnosed with the disease two years ago.

He will also be remembered for his roles in Bosom Buddies, a 1980s sitcom he starred in alongside his lifelong friend Tom Hanks.

The Emmy Award-winning actor also appeared in Newhart, That Thing You Do! and The Polar Express.

He won his first Emmy in 2016 for his role in Girls, which was created by Dunham.

His impressive career spanned a whopping 43 years and also saw him star in CBS drama Evil, ER and The West Wing.

He also had a love for theatre, and appeared in six Broadway productions, starring in the likes of Hairspray and Wicked.

He once shared the stage with pal Hanks too, with them starring together in Lucky Guy, a biographical drama about newspaper journalist Mike McAlary.

Peter was last on the Broadway stage in 2018 when he starred in political drama The True.

While he'd done a bit of TV acting before Bosom Buddies, it was his role alongside Hanks which saw his career take off.

Peter is survived by his wife Tracy Shayne and children, Nicholas, Joseph, Keaton and Cali.