British actor David Warner has died aged 80. According to the BBC, the cause was a cancer-related illness.
Warner, who was born in Manchester in 1941 and studied at RADA, is probably still best known for his roles in the 1976 horror classic The Omen, the 1982 adventure film franchise Tron and James Cameron’s 1997 Titanic, but he acted in over 90 films over his nearly six-decade-long career.
A younger audience may be familiar with his roles in Mary Poppins Returns and the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes but he also had memorable parts in Star Trek – where he played three different characters over the years – as well as in David Lynch’s 1991 cult favourite television show Twin Peaks.
He was also nominated for an Emmy for his role in the 1978 television miniseries Holocaust, won an Emmy for his role in the 1981 ABC show Masada, about the siege of the Masada citadel in Israel, and was nominated for a BAFTA for one of his first ever film roles in Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment in 1966.
Like many actors of his generation, he spent years in the theatre before moving to cinema and television, but his career also spanned radio, audio dramas and video games.
He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963 playing Trinculo in The Tempest and Cinna the Poet in Julius Caesar. He also played Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, Henry VI, Richard II and Hamlet.
According to The Guardian, Warner was “regarded as the finest Hamlet of his generation on stage”.
In a statement to the BBC, Warner’s family said: “Over the past 18 months he approached his diagnosis with a characteristic grace and dignity… He will be missed hugely by us, his family and friends, and remembered as a kind-hearted, generous and compassionate man, partner and father, whose legacy of extraordinary work has touched the lives of so many over the years. We are heartbroken.”
I grew up in awe of David Warner as a stalwart of so many of my favourite movies. To work extensively with him and to call him my friend was a gift beyond words. Goodnight, sweet Prince.❤️ pic.twitter.com/W8uuGWEpmE
— Mark Gatiss 💙 (@Markgatiss) July 25, 2022
Very sad to hear of David Warner's passing, an actor with a huge legacy on stage & screen and unforgettable roles in; Morgan: A Suitable Case For Treatment, Straw Dogs, From Beyond The Grave, The Omen, Time After Time, Time Bandits, Tron, Titanic and much more. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/sBh4VVvEfH
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 25, 2022
Directors and actors took to Twitter to share their thoughts about the legendary actor.
“I grew up in awe of David Warner as a stalwart of so many of my favourite movies. To work extensively with him and to call him my friend was a gift beyond words. Goodnight, sweet Prince,” said Mark Gatiss.
Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright said: “Very sad to hear of David Warner’s passing, an actor with a huge legacy on stage & screen and unforgettable roles in; Morgan: A Suitable Case For Treatment, Straw Dogs, From Beyond The Grave, The Omen, Time After Time, Time Bandits, Tron, Titanic and much more. He will be missed.”
It was reported that Warner had died at Denville Hall, a retirement home in Hillingdon exclusively for entertainment professionals.
