Actor David Warner known for Titanic and The Omen roles dies aged 80 from 'cancer-related' illness
Actor David Warner known for his roles in films including The Omen, Titanic and the Star Trek franchise has died aged 80.
The Manchester born actor died on Sunday, 24 July, from a 'cancer-related illness' at Denville Hall, a care home for those in the entertainment industry.
In a statement his family said they were "heartbroken", describing him as "kind-hearted, generous and compassionate".
The statement said: "It is with an overwhelmingly heavy heart that we share the news of the death of the actor David Warner (at the age of nearly 81), from a cancer-related illness, in the early hours of July 24 at Denville Hall.
"Over the past 18 months he approached his diagnosis with a characteristic grace and dignity."
It continued: "He will be missed hugely by us, his family and friends, and remembered as a kind-hearted, generous and compassionate man, partner and father whose legacy of extraordinary work has touched the lives of so many over the years.
"We are heartbroken.
"He is survived by his beloved partner Lisa Bowerman, his much-loved son Luke and daughter in-law Sarah, his good friend Jane Spencer Prior, his first wife Harriet Evans and his many gold dust friends."
Warner had a career on stage, television, and film spanning 60 years. He made more than 100 films and was also part of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).
He appeared in Hamlet, Henry VI in The Wars of The Roses in the 1960s and Falstaff in their 2008 Histories Cycle.
Gregory Doran, the artistic director emeritus, of the RSC said: "I'm very sad to hear the news that David Warner has died.
"He was a generous spirit, a kind man, and a huge talent."
One of his best-known roles was as photographer Keith Jennings in the supernatural classic Omen in 1976, while he also played Bob Cratchit in George C Scott’s 1984 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Spicer Lovejoy, Billy Zane’s sidekick, in James Cameron’s Titanic in 1997.
His last film appearance was as Admiral Boom in the 2018 film Mary Poppins Returns.
Warner was born in Manchester in June 1941 and educated in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
He took his first steps into acting by enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) in London.
His first on-screen credit was in 1962, and he earned a Bafta nomination for his role in 1966 film Morgan: A Suitable Case For Treatment, in which he starred alongside Dame Vanessa Redgrave.
His role in 1980s series Masada, which was fronted by Peter O’Toole and saw Warner playing Roman politician Pomponius Falco, earned him an Emmy.
Amid his success, Warner suffered chronic stage fright brought on by the skin condition psoriasis, and prioritised TV and film parts over theatre.
But in 2001, he returned to the stage after nearly 30 years to play Andrew Undershaft in a Broadway revival of George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara.
In 2014 he was among the cast of BBC Radio 4’s The Once And Future King, a series based on and adapted from TH White’s collection of fantasy novels by dramatist Brian Sibley.