Rafer Johnson, who was crowned the world’s greatest athlete after winning the decathlon gold medal at the 1960 Olympics and later helped tackle Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin, died on Wednesday at the age of 86.

The LA84 Foundation, of which he was a Founding-Member, confirmed Johnson’s death, saying he passed away at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family.

After winning silver at the 1956 Melbourne Games, Johnson claimed the top step on the Olympic podium four years later in Rome, clinching the gold ahead of training partner C.K. Yang of Taiwan with an Olympic record score.

The achievement earned Johnson the AAU James E. Sullivan Award as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States, putting his picture on the cover of Time and Sport Illustrated magazines.

Johnson was a fine all-round sportsman. He was drafted by the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams as a running back in 1959 and played basketball at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden. 

Johnson turned to acting after his athletics career. Among his credits were parts in the Elvis Presley film Wild in the Country and the James Bond movie License to Kill.

In 1968, while working on Kennedy’s Presidential campaign, Johnson was one of the men to subdue Sirhan Sirhan after he shot and killed the US Presidential candidate.