Actor Warren Mitchell, who played Alf Garnett in television series Till Death Us Do Part, has died aged 89.
A statement from his family said the star died in the early hours of Saturday “surrounded by his family”.
“He has been in poor health for some time, but was cracking jokes to the last,” the family added.
Mr Mitchell’s great nephew paid tribute to him on Twitter, saying he was “the last of his generation”.
The full tweet read: “Just got the news my great uncle Warren Mitchell (aka Alf Garnett) died last night. The last of his generation, wonderful and funny man RIP.”
He returned as Alf Garnett in the BBC series In Sickness and in Health which ran from 1985 until 1992.
He also received critical acclaim for other roles, including when he won Olivier awards for his performances in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman in 1979 and The Price in 2004.
Born in north London’s Stoke Newington, he served in the Royal Air Force and then went on to read physics at University College, Oxford.
He never completed the course and took up acting in 1951 at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
In 2004 he suffered from a stroke, but was back performing in Miller’s The Price a week later.
Other television shows he appeared in included Lovejoy, Waking The Dead and Kavanagh QC.
There have been many tributes for the actor.
Comedian Ricky Gervais tweeted: “Alf Garnett was one of the most influential and important characters and performances in comedy history. RIP Warren Mitchell.”
Theatre director Rupert Goold wrote: “RIP Warren Mitchell. A deeply soulful and erudite man who genuinely loved the theatre.”
He is survived by his wife, a fellow actress, Constance Wake and three children.
This page has been viewed 310 times
