Spike Lee’s upcoming Broadway revival of Stalag 17 has been dealt a savage blow - producer Michael Abbott has died.

The veteran TV, film, and theatre impresario produced the first Stalag 17 in 1951. He lost his battle with cancer on Thursday at New York’s Beth Israel Medical Center. He was 81.

A former actor, Abbott starred in 1949 drama The Traitor and a succession of Broadway hits.

As a producer, he was the man behind TV shows like The Prince And The Pauper, The Bridge Of San Luis Rey and A Tale Of Two Cities.

He made his name as the producer of a string of network TV specials and also took charge of hit variety show Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood.