U.S. TV Curmudgeon Rooney Dies at 92

Andy Rooney, 92, a U.S. television legend for his weekly rants on "60 Minutes," has died following complications after minor surgery, his former employer announced early Saturday.

CBS News said Rooney had passed away late Friday at a hospital in New York City.

No details were released.

"Words cannot adequately express Andy's contribution to the world of journalism and the impact he made--as a colleague and friend-- upon everyone at CBS," Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corporation, said in a statement.

"His wry wit, his unique ability to capture the essence of any issue, and his larger-than-life personality made him an icon, not only within the industry but among readers and viewers around the globe."

Four-time Emmy winner Rooney targeted everything from politics to pennies in curmudgeonly three-minute essays that concluded every edition of "60 Minutes," the longest running news magazine on U.S. television.

His 1,097th and final essay aired on October 2.

"I wish I could do this forever," he said. "I can't, though. But I'm not retiring. Writers don't retire and I'll always be a writer."