Australian TV legend Don Lane has died aged 75.
He had been living in a nursing home and was suffering from dementia.
PHOTOS: An Aussie entertainment icon
Lane's son and carer, PJ, was scheduled to play at Melbourne Alzheimer's fundraiser Show Compassion 2009 tonight.
Lane was diagnosed with the degenerative disease in 2005.
PJ recently relocated to Australia to be near his father after playing professional basketball in the US and Europe.
(ACA VIDEO: Don's son tipped for success)
"His son is devastated and Australia has suffered a great loss today," Lane's manager Jayne Ambrose said.
"He passed away late this morning. It was a dementia-related illness."
Lane's funeral will take place on Friday while a public memorial in also in planning.
"It's a very sad day for the family," Ms Ambrose said.
Nine Network CEO David Gyngell expressed his condolences to Lane's family.
"Today Australia lost one of its finest all-round entertainers," Gyngell said.
"Don Lane was a stalwart of the industry and a great mate to so many of us here at Nine.
"While Don may have passed, the memories and the laughs he provided will remain with us for many years to come."
Along with Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton, Lane will be remembered as part of a trio of legendary TV stars from the 1970s and 80s who ruled the airways when variety shows drew millions of viewers each week.
Lane was rewarded with nationwide fame and many Logie Awards and was later inducted in the organisation's Hall of Fame, but his physical and mental decline followed and he was not seen in public over the last few years.
(ACA VIDEO: Lane's final TV interview)
The American-born performer, talk show host and singer was born Morton Donald Isaacson in New York in 1933.
He got his break on Australian television in 1965 while working in a well-known nightclub called the Copacabana in Hawaii, when he was recommended for a hosting role on Channel 9.
He was most famous for his variety show, The Don Lane Show, which debuted on Channel 9 in 1975.
The final episode of his TV show aired in 1983 ran for two and a half hours, featuring such stars as Sammy Davis, Jr, Phyllis Diller, David Bowie and John Farnham.
He moved back to the US for two years after the show finished, living in Los Angeles before returning to Australia to host various programs.
Lane's career was not without controversy: in March 1968, he was imprisoned after being charged with importing marijuana into Australia.
He claimed the drugs were planted into his jacket pocket by a former business associate and was eventually found not guilty after being defended by now-notorious barrister Marcus Einfeld.
Lane's long-time friend, radio personality Chris Kearns, announced in 2008 on radio station 2UE that the 74-year-old entertainer had dementia.
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