'Law & Order' star Dennis Farina had cancer at time of death

Law & Order star Dennis Farina was battling cancer at the time of his death, it has been revealed.

Farina died at the age of 69 at a Scottsdale, AZ hospital due to developing blood clots in his lungs.

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His physician Dr Marc A Kates has now released a statement to clarify that Farina had been undergoing treatment for cancer at the time of his passing.

"He had a small cancer 13 years ago that was treated and cured with surgery," Dr Kates commented. "Over the last several months, he unfortunately experienced a recurrence of the cancer which was being treated."

He continued: "Despite treatment, over the weekend a blood clot developed in Mr Farina's lung which unexpectedly and suddenly took his life."

Farina was survived by his three sons and long-time partner Marianne Cahill.

His former Law & Order boss Dick Wolf said that he was "stunned" by Farina's death, and called the actor a "great guy".

Watch a clip of Dennis Farina in Law & Order below:

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