Key takeaways:

• As per the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, Stevens died from natural causes resulting from arteriosclerosis cardiovascular disease.
• Stevens' acting career was ended when he was detained for DUI following a car accident in August 1989. The actor claimed he was severely beaten while in custody.

Stevens was discovered dead inside his home on Jan. 26. He was best known for his roles on Melrose Place, Fame, and A Year in the Life. He was 70 years old.

As per the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, Stevens died from natural causes resulting from arteriosclerosis cardiovascular disease.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, arteriosclerosis is a "slow, progressive disease" wherein the arteries thicken or harden. It is usually caused by a "buildup of plaque in the lining of an artery" and can reduce blood flow and oxygen supply to major organs and extremities. A person may experience a heart attack, stroke, blood clot, or death if a major artery is blocked.

TMZ was the first to report on Stevens' death last week. Stevens' neighbor asked local officials to conduct a wellness check after the actor hadn't been noticed or heard from in days, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

According to TMZ, Stevens was discovered dead in his kitchen shortly before 11 a.m., and officers pronounced him dead at the scene, stating that he most likely died of natural causes with no signs of foul play.

Stevens, whose real identity was Calvin Morgan Stevens, was born on Oct. 16, 1951, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He started his Hollywood career in the 1970s, six months after graduating from college, as per his IMDb page.

He is best known for playing David Reardon, a teacher, in two seasons of Fame. A Year in the Life, The Waltons, Roses Will be for the Rich, and The Return of Marcus Welby M.D. are among his other credits.

Stevens' acting career was cut short when he was arrested for DUI in August 1989 after a car accident. While in custody, the actor claimed he was severely beaten. Stevens filed a lawsuit against the LAPD for police brutality after a blood alcohol test cleared him of a DUI charge. He later settled for an undisclosed amount.

Stevens made a comeback to television in 1992, playing Nick Diamond in the hit Fox drama Melrose Place. In 1999, he created his final on-screen appearance in Walker, Texas Ranger.