Harry Potter actor Richard Griffiths dies aged 65

One of Britain's best-loved character actors, Richard Griffiths, has died at the age of 65 from complications following heart surgery.

Apart from his role as Harry Potter's sadistic Uncle Vernon - he was perhaps best known for his portrayal as Monty in the 1987 film Withnail and I.

ITV News Reporter Martha Fairlie looks back on his career:

He won numerous awards in an acting career spanning almost four decades, most notably for his role as the teacher Hector in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys. He was awarded an OBE for services to drama in 2007.

Those who knew him remembered him for his warmth and "legendary anecdotes" as much as for his professional achievements.

Griffiths was born on July 31 1947 in Thornaby-on-Tees, the son of a steelworker. His parents were both deaf and he learned sign language at an early age so he could communicate with them.

He developed an ear for dialects which subsequently landed him with several ethnic roles.

In his childhood, he attempted to run away from home many times and dropped out of school to work as a porter, before his boss convinced him to go back to studying.

He eventually decided to attend a drama class at Stockton and Billingham College and began acting, and soon landed roles on BBC radio in small theatre productions.

He built up a reputation as a Shakespearean "clown" with hilarious portrayals of characters such as Falstaff with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

After settling in Manchester, he got his first big break in a film called It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet (1976).

This was followed by roles in contemporary and period pieces such as Gorky Park (1983), Withnail And I (1987), The Smell Of Fear (1991), and Sleepy Hollow (1999).

Many will remember him for his portrayal of Inspector Henry Crabbe, a disillusioned policeman and pie chef, in the TV detective series Pie In The Sky.

Most recently, he starred alongside Hollywood actor Danny DeVito in The Sunshine Boys in the West End last year.

Griffiths was also well-known as an actor who took a strong line against members of theatre audiences whose mobile telephones rang out during performances.

At least twice, he was known to have stopped a show to order people out of the theatre after their phones had persistently rung.