Ken Howard, the president of the SAG-AFTRA and an actor known for starring in the 1970s CBS show "The White Shadow" and the satirical television sitcom "30 Rock," died on Wednesday at his home near Los Angeles. He was 71.

Pamela Greenwalt, spokeswoman for the SAG-AFTRA announced the news but did not reveal the cause of death. Earlier this year, Greenwalt shut down rumors that Howard, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007, was seriously ill.

"Ken was an inspirational leader and it is an incredible loss for SAG-AFTRA, for his family and for everyone who knew him," the guild's acting president, Gabrielle Carteris, said. "He was a light that never dimmed and was completely devoted to the membership. He led us through tumultuous times and set our union on a steady course of excellence. We will be forever in his debt."

Howard was best known for playing the role of a NBA-player-turned-high-school-basketball-coach in "The White Shadow" and also made appearances as the CEO of Kabletown in NBC's "30 Rock." His other television credits include "Crossing Jordan," "Dynasty" and its spinoff "The Colbys."

The head of the SAG-AFTRA has a Tony and an Emmy under his belt. Howard picked up an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for his performance as Phelan Beale in the HBO TV movie "Grey Gardens" and won a Tony in 1970 for his portrayal of a gym coach at a Catholic boy's school in Robert Marasco's "Child's Play."

Howard, who was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild in 2009 and then again in 2011, featured in a number of films, including "Rambo IV," "1776," "Michael Clayton," "J. Edgar," and more recently in "Joy" and "The Wedding Ringer."

Born in El Centro, Calif., Howard and his family shifted to Manhasset, N.Y., where he played basketball and attended Amherst College. The six-foot-six actor was also part of an acapella group and enrolled as a student at the Yale School of Drama, but left before he could graduate in order to make his Broadway debut in the 1968 play "Promises, Promises."

Howard is survived by his wife Linda Fetters Howard, a retired stuntwoman, and his three stepchildren.