Eric the Actor Lynch of The Howard Stern Show dies at 39

A longtime contributor to ''The Howard Stern Show,''' Eric ''The Actor'' Lynch, has died at the age of 39.

Stern announced Lynch's death on his show Monday.

"We will miss him forever," an announcement on Stern's website said. "It is with sad news we announce the passing of a true Stern Show legend - our friend Eric the Actor. R.I.P. Eric...we will never forget you."

null

Lynch called into the show for 12 years.

Lunch, who stood 3'5", called into Stern's show frequently, beginning on Sept. 19, 2002, and was considered part of a crew called the Wack Packers.

Lynch also made cameos in the TV shows "American Dreams," "In Plain Sight," and "Fringe."

"All of those programs have since gone off the air following Eric's appearances, leading some to call Eric a 'show killer,'" Stern's website says.

On Twitter, many stars mourned Lynch in 140 characters. Zach Braff, Zac Efron, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, Jonah Hill, Diana DeGarmo, Andy Cohen, Artie Lange, Jimmy Kimmel, Mark McGrath and Jerry O'Connell all tweeted condolences, many including photos they took with the contributor on the occasions he came to the studio.

"Eric the Actor was my favorite Wack Packer of all time. Every time @HowardStern took his call, he was mining radio gold. #RIPEricTheActor," tweeted Chicago's Richard Roeper.

TMZ reported Lynch's manager said he was rushed to the hospital with heart problems Saturday, and the hospital confirmed the 39-year-old died surrounded by family and friends. Lynch appeared on Stern's show just last week.