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Wilbur Turnblad is dead! Dick Latessa who starred in original Broadway production of Hairspray dies at 87

Published: 02:28 EST, 20 December 2016 | Updated: 03:14 EST, 20 December 2016

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Broadway veteran Dick Latessa died Monday at the age of 87.

The news was first broken by composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman via his Facebook page.

'Hairspray (and Broadway) has lost a huge piece of its heart. RIP to the glorious, loving and much loved Dick Latessa,' Shaiman wrote. 'We were lucky to have him in our lives, he was, truly, timeless.'

R.I.P.: Dick Latessa, pictured in Las Vegas in 2006 with Harvey Fierstein, originated the role of Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray on Broadway. He died Monday at age 87

Latessa is best known for originating the role of Walter Turnblad on Broadway for which he won a Tony Award in 2003.

His original Hairspray co-star Harvey Fierstein took to Twitter to pay tribute, sharing a YouTube video of himself and Latessa performing together.

'My heart is broke, he tweeted. 'Still, for 1,000 performances I had the best partner ever.'

Longevity: Latessa was a veteran performer on Broadway where he began his career in 1959 after starting out as an actor in his native Cleveland, Ohio. He's pictured in 2011 in NYC

Heartbroken: Fierstein shared video of himself performing with Latessa along with a heartfelt tribute via Twitter

According to Broadway.com, Latessa was born on September 15, 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio.

He was the sixth of seven children to parents and embarked upon a career as a musical actor after completing military service in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1952. He began in his native Cleveland before moving to New York City in 1959.

Former Will & Grace star Sean Hayes who worked with Latessa in the musical Promises, Promises in 2010 described the veteran actor as 'a class act.'

Missed: Sean Hayes starred with Latessa in Promises, Promises on Broadway in 2010 and described him as 'a legend' and 'a class act' in a heartfelt tweet

Paid tribute: Former Glee star Matthew Morrison also took to social media to express his sorrow and said the veteran actor had taught him 'so much about life and professionalism'

Sorrow: Musical actresses Kristin Chenoweth and Bernadette Peters tweeted their sadness at the news

'My heart is broken tonight,' tweeted Glee star and Broadway regular Matthew Morrison. 'Lost the person who taught me so much about life, professionalism, and consistency. Dick Latessa was legendary.'

Kristen Chenoweth said: 'From all my family from the Broadway revival Promises Promises, we love you Dick Latessa. RIP.'

And actress and musical veteran Bernadette Peters said he would be 'deeply missed'.

Latessa also appeared on the Great White Way in productions such as Follies, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound, and in the revivals of Damn Yankees, A Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Forum and Cabaret.

He last appeared on Broadway opposite Linda Lavin in 2012’s The Lyons.