Paul D’Amato dead: Law & Order and The Deer Hunter star dies aged 76 after four-year battle with rare disease

THE actor Paul D'Amato, the inspiration for Marvel's Wolverine, has died aged 76.

He was best known for playing a range of characters in US police drama Law & Order.

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D'Amato also starred as a sergeant alongside Robert De Niro in the 1978 epic war drama The Deer Hunter.

His family said he passed away on Monday following a four year battle with a rare brain disease.

But it was his appearance in ice hockey hit Slap Shot that inspired the X-Men comic book character Wolverine.

In his later years. D'Amato worked as a boot fitter in a Vermont ski shop.

He is survived by his sister Andrea and girlfriend Marina Re.