The actor was 71 and was widely known for playing Ray Romano's gruff father, Frank Barone, in the popular TV sitcom, now seen in syndication.

He died at New York Presbyterian Hospital. His publicist said he had suffered from multiple myeloma and heart disease.

Mr. Boyle is famous also for playing the wide-eyed, mush-mouthed monster (who sings "Puttin' on the Ritz") in the Mel Brooks motion picture "Young Frankenstein." Other acclaimed film credits include "The Candidate," "Joe" and "Monster's Ball."

Mr. Boyle had little presence in New York City theatres. Off-Broadway, he was Lee in the 1980 Public Theater production of True West (opposite Tommy Lee Jones as his brother, Austin), and he appeared most recently in the Off-Broadway docudrama The Exonerated. His Broadway credits include The Roast and Paul Sills' Story Theatre.

Mr. Boyle's other screen credits include "F.I.S.T.," "Hammett," "The Brink's Job," "Where the Buffalo Roam," "Yellowbeard," "The Dream Team" and more.

His watershed role was considered to be the title role in "Joe" (1970), about a bilious factory worker who rages against counterculture folk.

Mr. Boyle was an Emmy Award winner for an appearance on "The X-Files." He was Emmy-nominated five times for playing salty, tell-it-like-it-is Frank Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond."

Mr. Boyle had previously overcome a stroke and a heart attack in his busy career.

He was born in Northtown, PA, and after college entered a monastery as Brother Francis, according to the Times. The paper said a stint in the Navy ended in a nervous breakdown. A career as an actor followed.

Mr. Boyle reportedly studied with Uta Hagen, and toured in The Odd Couple. He would join the Second City comedy troupe in Chicago in the 1960s.

He is survived by his wife, Loraine Alterman, and daughters Lucy and Amy.