'Cake Boss' Baker Sal Picinich Dead at 63

Sal Picinich, one of the veteran bakers who appeared in the hit TLC show "Cake Boss" has died at the age of 63, according to a New Jersey newspaper.

His wife, Lucille, told The Record of Bergen County that the cause of his death was cancer.

Picinich was born on the Croatian island of Susak.

He worked 45 years at Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, where the TV series is recorded.

The bakery's publicist says Buddy "The Cake Boss" Valastro looked up to Picinich as a "second father." Picinich had worked under Valastro's late father, Buddy Valastro Sr.

Picinich stopped appearing on the show when he began battling illness in late 2009. However, he returned last summer to accept the employee of the century award to mark the bakery's 100th anniversary.

The Carlstadt resident is survived by his wife and two sons.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.