The creator of 60 Minutes, Don Hewitt has died at age 86 after battling pancreatic cancer, CBSNews.com reported today.

Hewitt is considered a leader in the news magazine industry. He is acknowledged for introducing an innovative news format with 60 minutes that was reproduced all over the world.

He was executive producer of 60 Minutes when the news program premiered in September, 1968 and stepped down from the program in 2004. Hewitt won eight Emmy and two Peabody awards.

According to CBS News, 60 Minutes is the top news program on air, according to CBS News.