Actor and disc jockey "The Real" Don Steele, whose on-air style was among the most imitated in the country, died Tuesday. He was 61 and had lung cancer.
Steele was KRTH's afternoon host at the oldies station from 1992 until mid-May, when his health took a turn for the worse.During his stint as afternoon-drive personality on top-40 station KHJ in the mid-1960s, Steele first used his famous phrase "Boss Radio in Boss Angeles!" He also coined "Tina Delgado is alive, alive!" which was popular among local teenagers at the time.
Tapes of his shows were studied in broadcast schools and mimicked at other stations.
Along with his radio career, Steele acted in such cult films as "Death Race 2000," "Grand Theft Auto," "Eating Raoul" and "Rock & Roll High School." B-movie maker Roger Corman often used Steele for fast-talking hipster characters.
Steele was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.