( CNN ) -- Davy Jones , whose charming grin and British accent won the hearts of millions of fans on the 1960s television series `` The Monkees , '' died Wednesday , according to the Martin County , Florida , sheriff 's office . He was 66 . A witness told authorities he was with Jones in Indiantown , Florida , when Jones `` began to complain of not feeling well and having trouble breathing , '' the sheriff 's office said in a statement . Jones was transported to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead , authorities said . A Martin County law enforcement source with knowledge of the case said Jones apparently suffered a heart attack . Laurie Jacobson , whose company Living Legends LTD often booked Jones for Hollywood nostalgia shows , spoke with him two days ago about several new bookings . `` He was a vegetarian , and there was not an ounce of fat on the guy , '' Jacobson said . `` He lived on the beach in Florida and ran miles every morning . This is the last person I expected this to happen to . He could n't have been in better shape . '' The diminutive vocalist and actor sang lead on the musical group 's hits such as `` Daydream Believer '' and `` A Little Bit Me , A Little Bit You . '' Besides Jones , The Monkees included band members Micky Dolenz , Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith . The pop group was created to star in an NBC sitcom and capitalize on the Beatles ' teenybopper popularity . `` The Monkees '' TV series premiered in the fall of 1966 . Share your memories of Davy Jones on iReport . In terms of musical popularity , the project succeeded beyond anyone 's expectations , with the group notching a handful of No . 1 songs ( including `` I 'm a Believer , '' Billboard 's top song of 1967 ) and four No . 1 albums . The group , which was dubbed the `` prefab four '' by critics , rebelled against its management in an effort to take control of its musical career . The move worked to an extent -- band members , who had generally been replaced by session men on Monkees recordings , were allowed to play their own instruments and contribute songs -- but coincided with a decline in the Monkees ' popularity . NBC canceled the TV series `` The Monkees '' after just two seasons , and the band lasted for only one more year after that . Though the TV show was never a huge ratings hit , its knockabout , Marx Brothers-style comedy -- inspired , to an extent , by the loopier sequences in the Beatles ' `` A Hard Day 's Night '' -- gained fans and followers , reigniting the band 's popularity when MTV reran the show in the mid-'80s . Demand for Jones at nostalgia shows was brisk , Jacobson said . `` He 's been really busy , '' she said . `` He 's toured with his band , singing as well . He loved to pick up these little autograph shows . He loved the fans , he loved spending time with his fans . He often got on stage and performed at these shows . The lines for him were always out the door . '' The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said flowers in honor of Jones would be placed on The Monkees ' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday afternoon . `` That David has stepped beyond my view causes me the sadness that it does many of you , '' Nesmith posted on his Facebook page Wednesday . `` I will miss him , but I wo n't abandon him to mortality ... David 's spirit and soul live well in my heart , among all the lovely people , who remember with me the good times , and the healing times , that were created for so many , including us . '' `` His talent will be much missed ; his gifts will be with us always , '' said fellow Monkee Peter Tork . `` My deepest sympathy to Jessica and the rest of his family . '' Beatle Ringo Starr issued a short statement : `` God bless Davy . Peace & love to his family , Ringo . '' David Thomas Jones was born December 30 , 1945 , in Manchester , England . He was already famous in his home country when he joined the Monkees . He had starred in the musical `` Oliver ! '' on the London stage as the Artful Dodger and was nominated for a Tony for his performance on Broadway , according to a biography on a Monkees fan site . Indeed , he got a taste of the Beatles ' popularity when the `` Oliver ! '' cast appeared on `` The Ed Sullivan Show '' on February 9 , 1964 -- the date of the Beatles ' first appearance . After the Monkees broke up , Jones enjoyed occasional acting roles , including a guest spot on an episode of `` The Brady Bunch '' and appearances in `` SpongeBob SquarePants '' and `` The Brady Bunch Movie . '' When he was n't singing -- he participated in several Monkees reunions over the years -- he was devoted to owning and racing horses . Jones was married three times . He is survived by his third wife , Jessica Pacheco , and four daughters from his two previous marriages . He told Britain 's Daily Mail last year that he used to be 5 feet 4 inches tall , `` but I 've lost an inch . '' He posted photographs of his horses , his grandchildren and himself on his blog , `` Keep up with Jones , '' sometimes also posting messages to fans . `` I wrote some time ago that not everyone has dreams and hopes that come true , '' he wrote in a January 2011 message . `` Mine have . `` Regrets , yes -- if you do n't have them you 're a fool . However , I thank all of you -- yeah , you -- for your support and love . '' People we 've lost in 2012 : The lives they lived . CNN 's Alan Duke , Susan Candiotti and Louie Mejia contributed to this report .
Davy Jones sang lead on several of The Monkees ' hits . Source : Jones suffered an apparent heart attack . `` The Monkees '' television series premiered in 1966 and lasted for two seasons .