TV Notes:'Mr. Belvedere' Dies at 80

Aug. 6, 2001 -- One of TV's most endearing butler's has passed away.

British actor Christopher Hewett, who had the lead role in Mr. Belvedere from 1985 to 1990, died Friday at age 80 after returning home from the hospital.

Hewett started out on the stage in England during World War II, performing to the sound of air raid bombs. He made his Broadway debut in 1956 in the original production of My Fair Lady.

But for most American audiences, he's best remembered as the problem solving butler Mr. Belvedere who once worked for England's Royal family and ended up as an employee of an American family.

Hewett's health had been declining for some time, according to his nephew. "His biggest goal was to get back home, and he made it," Paul Hewett told The Associated Press. "We got him back home [Thursday] and he died [Friday]."

John Leguizamo Eyes TV Deal

John Leguizamo is toning down the jokes for his next project.

The Moulin Rouge actor has signed a seven-figure deal with CBS to develop and star in a series. It's considered the richest deal ever for a Latino actor.

The one-hour series is expected to debut this season. Lequizamo tells The Hollywood Reporter it will not be as comical as some of his earlier work, and describes it as "[An] action drama, probably dealing with some sort of law enforcement, with some humor in it."

ABCNEWS Radio and ABCNEWS.com's Buck Wolf and Nancy Chandross contributed to this report.