'Good, the Bad and the Ugly' star Eli Wallach dead at 98

September 17, 2007: Actor Eli Wallach arrives for the premiere of the Ken Burns World War II documentary 'The War' in New York. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano) (AP2007)

Eli Wallach, a character actor best known for his supporting roles in the Western classics "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," died Tuesday at the age of 98, his daughter Katherine told FOX411.

His son, Peter, told the Associated Press his father died on natural causees.

"The best way to honor him is to put on one of his movies," he said. "Put on 'Baby Doll' or 'Magnificent Seven.' Those live forever."

Born in Brooklyn in 1915, Wallach attended college at the University of Texas and earned a master's degree in education at City College of New York. He served as an Army medic in World War II and made his debut on Broadway in 1945.

Wallach won a Tony Award in 1951 for his performance as Alvaro in Tennessee Williams's "The Rose Tattoo," and made his film debut five years later in the Elia Kazan-directed "Baby Doll."

But his two most memorable roles were those of Mexican bandits. In 1960's "The Magnificent Seven," Wallach played Calvera, who regularly raids a Mexican village for food until its inhabitants are forced to turn to the eponymous characters for protection. In 1966, Wallach played Tuco opposite Clint Eastwood in "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly."

Wallach is survived by his wife of 66 years, Anne Jackson, their three children, and grandnephew A.O. Scott, a New York Times film critic.

The New York Times was the first to report Wallach's death.