The actor, known for his villainous turn as Billy Clyde Tuggle in the soap opera 'All My Children', died on Thursday. His manager Tsu Tsu Stanton confirmed the news.
"He was a very gifted and kind man who loved life and everyone," Stanton stated on Twitter on Friday.
Cowles is survived by wife, 'The Good Wife' actress Christine Baranski.
Cowles, whose career in film and television spanned more than four decades, earned two daytime Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Tuggle. He also appeared in the web-only version of the soap when it debuted in 2013, said the Hollywood Reporter.
He played the trainer for the minor-league Charlestown Chiefs hockey team in Paul Newman's 'Slap Shot' (1977) and had roles in 'The Juror' (1996) and Martin Scorsese's Shutter 'Island' (2010).