Veteran Australian TV journalist Mike Willesee has died after a long illness.

The 76-year-old passed away today following a lengthy battle with throat cancer.

Willesee’s TV career spanned more than 50 years, working for the ABC, the Nine network and Channel Seven.

The Perth-born Willesee was known for his intimidating interview style that included “the Willesee stare”, that was said to have many of his high-profile interviewees floundering.

In 1987, he famously hosted an edition of ACA on Nine while intoxicated after drinking for much of the afternoon.

He is the father of fellow journalists Amy Willesee and Michael Willesee Jr. and has another daughter Jo Willesee. He is the father-in-law of presenter and reporter Allison Langdon and journalist and writer Mark Whittaker.