American Gladiators' 'Hawk' Lee Reherman dies aged 49

Reherman was feeling unwell after undergoing hip surgery

(Getty)

Lee Reherman, the actor, athlete and producer most famous for playing Hawk in the 1990s competition show American Gladiators, has died aged 49.

Reherman died at his home in Manhattan Beach, in California, his publicist, Anthony Turk, told the Associated Press.

His cause of death has not yet been established. Reherman told friends he was feeling unwell after undergoing hip surgery, according to Mr Turk. He was found ill by his girlfriend on Tuesday and died soon after.

Reherman played football at Cornell University and left his job as a graduate instructor at UCLA, where he was hoping to start his PHD, to join Gladiators in 1993 as Hawk. He also appeared in television series such as The X-Files and NCIS, in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Last Action Hero and more recently in Star Trek Into Darkness.

“Anybody who came in contact with him, even people who may have been on a film set with him for just one day, Lee was very much loved by everyone,” his manager Kathy Carter said.

He is survived by his girlfriend, father and two brothers.