Steve Rossi, of comedy duo Allen & Rossi, dies at 82

Steve Rossi, one half of the prolific comedy duo Allen & Rossi, which became a favorite of "The Ed Sullivan Show" and other TV variety shows, has died at age 82.

His friend of 40 years, Michael Flores, told the Associated Press on Sunday that he visited the pal who introduced him to the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in hospice care Friday, and he was weak from cancer of the esophagus that had spread but wasn't in any pain.

The Las Vegas Sun originally reported Rossi's death Sunday.

The newspaper reports that the duo appeared regularly on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" and "The Merv Griffin Show." They also toured comedy clubs nationwide and headlined shows in Vegas until they split up in 1968.