Tributes have come in for Tony Armatrading, Notting Hill and Death In Paradise actor and brother of singer Joan Armatrading, after he died aged 60.
The actor’s friend Tim Bentinck first broke the news on social media, saying Armatrading died earlier on Monday morning after a battle with cancer.
Sharing an image of the actor in a hospital bed, Armatrading was seen with his wife Suzy and their dog Dash at his bedside.
According to Bentinck, also an actor, the photo was taken on Sunday evening.
He wrote: ‘Very sad news. My dearest friend Tony Armatrading died of cancer an hour ago.
‘I had the privilege of being his best man, and loved him dearly.
‘He was a wonderful actor, and a true friend.
Very sad news. My dearest friend Tony Armatrading died of cancer an hour ago.
I had the privilege of being his best man, and loved him dearly. He was a wonderful actor, and a true friend. This pic of him with Suzy and Dash taken last night. pic.twitter.com/DfnFqtpOyj
‘This pic of him with Suzy and Dash taken last night.’
Actress Lorelai King reacted to the post and shared her heartbreak, writing: ‘A lovely man. So many happy memories spending time with him and Suzy in Los Angeles… ? My love to you all. x’
Casualty star Lisa Bowerman added: ‘I’m so sorry to hear this. Only worked with him once briefly – and he was a lovely chap.’
Armatrading began his career with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre stage crew before starting a career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and starring in several productions.
He worked alongside the likes of Imelda Staunton, Jeremy Irons, Pete Postlethwaite and Sean Bean in productions including Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.
As well as stage, he appeared in TV series Brookside, the long-running police drama The Bill as well as A Touch Of Frost. He also played Dr Ivann Tate in Death In Paradise in 2016.
Acting in film, Armatrading appeared in 2016’s Now You See Me 2 and was the gate-keeping crew member on Notting Hill in 1999, who refused to let Hugh Grant’s character onto the closed set.
His final role was on TV series Hawaii Five-O last year.
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