Tributes paid to Welsh actor Roger Rees

Tributes have been paid to Welsh actor Roger Rees, who has reportedly died at the age of 71.

The Aberystwyth-born Rees, best known for his roles in the West Wing and Cheers, also won Tony and Olivier Awards in 1982 for his role as the title character in the Royal Shakespeare Company's The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby.

He was familiar to television audiences as Robin Colcord, a millionaire love interest for Rebecca Howe, played by Kirstie Alley, in 1980s comedy Cheers and more recently as British ambassador Lord John Marbury in cult US political drama The West Wing from 2000 to 2005.

Among his other credits was an appearance as the Sheriff of Rottingham in Mel Brooks' slapstick comedy Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993.

Musician Rick Wakeman called Rees "a lovely man", with actor and director Samuel West called him "a sweet prince".

Rees, originally an artist, turned to acting in the 1960s.

Reports in the US, where he had lived for more than 25 years, said he had died after a short illness. He is survived by his husband, the playwright Rick Elise.