Sir John Hurt: Veteran actor dies aged 77
Video report by Francesca Carpenter
Veteran actor Sir John Hurt has died at 77 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The Oscar-nominated actor starred in a number of critically acclaimed films and TV productions across his career that spanned six decades.
His widow said it will be a "strange world" without him. In a statement, Anwen Hurt said: "It is with deep sadness that I have to confirm that my husband, John Vincent Hurt, died on Wednesday 25th January 2017 at home in Norfolk.
"John was the most sublime of actors and the most gentlemanly of gentlemen with the greatest of hearts and the most generosity of spirit. He touched all our lives with joy and magic and it will be a strange world without him."
He was nominated for two Academy Awards, for The Elephant Man and Midnight Express, and won four Bafta Awards, including a lifetime achievement recognition for his outstanding contribution to British cinema in 2012.
Sir John is also well known for his role in 1979 sci-fi horror Alien with his character's final scene frequently named as one of the most memorable in cinematic history.
In more recent years, he starred in the Harry Potter films as wand merchant Mr Ollivander.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling tweeted: "So very sad to hear that the immensely talented and deeply beloved John Hurt has died. My thoughts are with his family and friends."
The official Harry Potter twitter account also paid tribute, saying fans "will miss him very much".
Hollywood legend Mel Brooks described him as "a truly magnificent talent".
Richard E Grant tweeted: "So so sad to have lost such an extraordinary talent and friend. Sir John Hurt. R. I. P."
Film-maker Kevin Smith tweeted: "Rest in Peace to the actor genius #JohnHurt. Most folks know him from ALIEN but I loved him as Sir Richard Rich from A Man for All Seasons."
In 2015 he was knighted by the Queen for services to drama at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.
During the same year Sir John was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent a course of chemotherapy.
He recently pulled out of a production of John Osborne's play The Entertainer on medical advice, as he recovered from an intestinal complaint.
However, he continued to work at a prodigious rate, starring in Jackie Kennedy biopic Jackie, thriller Damascus Cover and the upcoming biopic of boxer Lenny McLean, My Name Is Lenny.
He was also filming Darkest Hour, in which he starred as Neville Chamberlain opposite Gary Oldman's Winston Churchill.
Other celebrated roles included his performance as Stephen Ward - a key figure in the Profumo affair - in Scandal and a reprisal of his role as Crisp for An Englishman In New York in 2009, 34 years after his original portrayal of the flamboyant figure.
Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Sir John went to art college before he studied at Rada (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) and picked up TV and film roles until he had his major breakthrough, appearing in A Man For All Seasons as Richard Rich.
Sir John achieved further prominence in the film 10 Rillington Place as Timothy Evans who was wrongly executed for the crimes of serial killer John Christie, played by Richard Attenborough.