Washington, Aug 19 (DPA) Don Hewitt, the legendary producer of the television news programme '60 Minutes', died Wednesday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 86, CBS News said.

'60 Minutes' has aired on CBS for more than 40 years, currently the longest running show broadcast during prime time. The investigative news documentary show typically carved into three 20-minute segments is widely regarded as the best of its genre.

Hewitt's nearly 60-year career at CBS News put him in the middle of some of the biggest events before he stepped down from '60 Minutes' in 2004.

Hewitt produced and directed the coverage of the first televised presidential debate in 1960 between John F.