Reports have indicated that Gary Papa, WPVI-TV sports director for Action News, has died Friday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania due to prostate cancer. He was 54.

Gary Papa announced five-years ago that he was starting to lose hair due to his sickness. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2003, and last appeared on air in May 23.

Papa joined WPVI-TV in April 1981 as a weekend sportscaster, and became Action News sports director in 1990. He was also co-host for the Saturday evening public affairs show Primetime Weekend since 1983, when Jim O’Brien died in a skydiving accident.

Jim Gardner made a special appearance at today’s 5 p.m. newscast, along with Rob Jennings and Monica Malpass to announce the news. “This is probably the toughest newscast we’ve ever done,” says Jennings.