Actor James MacArthur, who played Danno in the original version of television’s Hawaii Five-0 has died aged 72, his agent said yesterday.

Richard Lewis said the actor died in Florida of “natural causes”.

In a career that spanned more than four decades, MacArthur was most recognised for his role as Detective Danny Danno Williams on Hawaii Five-0, which aired from 1968 to 1980.

Episodes often ended with detective Steve McGarret, the lead character, uttering what became a pop culture catch phrase: “Book ‘em, Danno.”

Jack Lord, who starred as McGarret, died in 1998.

MacArthur quit the role of McGarret’s sidekick a year before the programme’s final season.

“Quite frankly, I grew bored,” he explained on his website. “The stories became more bland and predictable and presented less and less challenge to me as an actor.”

Hawaii Five-O, one of the longest running crime shows in TV history with 278 episodes, was shot on location in the Hawaiian islands. It was the first Hawaii-based national TV series.

The drama has been remade by CBS with a new cast this season.

Mr MacArthur acted in several films, including Swiss Family Robinson and The Battle of the Bulge.

His live acting career won him the 1961 Theatre World Award for best new actor for his performance in “Invitation to a March.”