CELEBRATED Rugby-born actor Tim Pigott-Smith has passed away aged 70.
He was a well known face on both stage and screen. Arguably his best known role was as Ronald Merrick in the epic TV series Jewel in the Crown.
He was also seen on the small screen in everything from Dr Who to Downtown Abbey, and on the big screen in Gangs of New York, Remains of the Day, and Quantum of Solace among many others.
A one-time Royal Shakespeare Company board member – who played a key role in the £113million transformation of the company’s theatre in Stratford – he appeared on stage in many Shakespeare and other classical roles.
Born in Rugby, the son of Margaret Muriel (née Goodman) and Harry Thomas Pigott-Smith, who was a journalist.
He was educated at Wyggeston Boys’ School, Leicester, King Edward VI School in Stratford – where his father was editor the Stratford Herald – and Bristol University. He trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
He had recently completed filming for the forthcoming BBC Two drama King Charles III, an adaptation of the theatre production, in which he reprises the title role he performed on Broadway and in the West End. The drama, which depicts Prince Charles as the new king, is due to be screened on television next month.
He was made an OBE in the 2017 New Year Honours list for his services to drama.
He leaves actress wife Pamela Miles and son, Tom, who is a concert solo violinist
