Joss Ackland death: British actor dies aged 95, family says – after iconic film career featuring alongside Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October
British actor Joss Ackland has died at the age of 95, his family said in a statement.
Throughout his stellar career, which spanned more than six decades, he starred alongside a number of A-list actors, including Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery in The Hunt for Red October.
Ackland, who appeared in more than 130 film and television roles and was perhaps best known for his performances in Lethal Weapon 2 and White Mischief, died “peacefully surrounded by family,” his loved ones confirmed tonight.
The actor, who was awarded a CBE in 2001 for services to drama, also spent much of his career on stage alongside other British greats such as Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench and Tom Courtenay.
Although he spent much of his time hanging out with the greats, Ackland was also a “beloved father” and was married to his wife Rosemary for 51 years before she died of motor neurone disease in 2002.
The star had seven children, 34 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
A statement read: “With his distinctive voice and commanding presence, Ackland brought a unique intensity and gravity to his roles.
‘He will be remembered as one of Britain’s most talented and beloved actors.’
British actor Joss Ackland has died at the age of 95, his family said in a statement
Ackland, who appeared in more than 130 film and television roles during his six-decade career
The film and stage actor pictured with Elaine Paige as they starred in the 1978 production of Evita
The BAFTA-nominated actor was born on February 29, 1928 in North Kensington, London.
After attending London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, he made his professional stage debut at the age of 17, starring in the 1945 production of The Hasty Heart.
Five years later, he made his first film appearance as an extra in the Oscar-winning thriller Seven Days to Noon. He next made his first credited debut in Vernon Sewell’s 1952 Ghost Ship, where he played a supporting role.
However, for much of the 1950s, Ackland continued to perfect his role in the menace, before abandoning his career for a brief period and moving to Africa with his wife.
The pair embarked on a seven-week journey by cargo boat to Beira before traveling to Malawi, where they began working on a tea plantation at the foot of Mount M’lanje.
After six months, the couple decided to move to South Africa, where Ackland would try to find theater work.
They stayed there for more than two years, until 1957 when police raided their flat and confiscated the children’s book Black Beauty for fear it would undermine apartheid.
Ackland starred in 1998’s ‘Heat of the Sun’ alongside Trevor Eve and Susannah Harker
‘One day we were raided by the police and they confiscated a book, Black Beauty, because the horse was black! I was facing a prison sentence so I rushed out,” he previously told the Mail.
When they returned to England, Ackland joined the Old Vic and his career began to take off.
During his life he worked with a long list of stars from all over the world.
A biography written years ago stated: “His theater and film lovers included Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Jean Simmons, Demi Moore, Claire Bloom, Glynis Johns, Shirley Maclaine, Greta Scacchi, Barbara Cook, Anouk Aimée, Dorothy Tutin and Denholm Elliott. ‘
But his family remained his centre: ‘His longest lasting partner was Rosemary Kirkcaldy. They had seven children, 32 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.’
When his wife Rosemary, also an actress, died in 2002, he said he “couldn’t handle” the facet he initially performed.