American film, television and stage actor Eli Herschel Wallach, whom the New York Times described as "one of his generation's most prominent and prolific character actors," died Tuesday at age 98.

CNN reported that Wallach died Tuesday night. His daughter Katherine confirmed his death.

Though Wallach is no longer with us physically, his legacy and great work live on.

Wallach was known for his star roles in westerns "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly."

He had over 150 credits and worked with a slew of top Hollywood actors in his 60-plus years in "the business": "The Misfits" (1961) with Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe, "Lord Jim" (1965) with Peter O'Toole and James Mason, "Tough Guys" (1986) with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster," "The Two Jakes" (1990) with Jack Nicholson and "Mystic River" (2003), starring Sean Penn and Tim Robbins and directed by Clint Eastwood.

In addition to film acting, Wallach loved live theater, and he originated roles in Tennessee Williams' "The Rose Tattoo" and Eugene Ionesco's "Rhinoceros."

The New York Times reported that despite Wallach's great work, he was never nominated for an Academy Award.

However in 2010, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded him an honorary Oscar and saluted him as "the quintessential chameleon, effortlessly inhabiting a wide range of characters, while putting his inimitable stamp on every role."

During a 1997 interview with The Times, Wallach explained that he lived a "dual life," given the contrast in characters he often in portrayed in theater versus film.

"I lead a dual life," he said. "In the theater, I'm the little man, or the irritated man, the misunderstood man," whereas in films, "I do seem to keep getting cast as the bad guys."

Through changes of characters in movies and plays, Wallach's love for acting remained consistent.

"What else am I going to do?" he asked in the interview. "I love to act."

Rest in peace, Eli Wallach.