Victor Spinetti dies at the age of 82

The comic actor Victor Spinetti has died after battling cancer, his agent has confirmed.

Born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale to an Italian-Welsh father and a Welsh mother, Victor Spinetti went on to enjoy a career that lasted over fifty years, spanning film, television and the theatre.

Spinetti gained international recognition in the 60s with appearances in three Beatles films, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, ‘Help!’, and ‘Magical Mystery Tour’.

He had also been a founder member of Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, winning a Tony Award for a memorable performance in ‘Oh! What a Lovely War’.

In the 1980s he gained a new audience, providing the voice of the villainous Texas Pete in S4C’s ‘SuperTed’.

In recent years, he continued to appear onstage, but had to curtail his appearances after being taken unwell last year.

Comedian and performer Stan Stennett, a longtime friend, said he was "devastated" by the news. He said he had spoken to Spinetti only yesterday.

After being diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year, he spent his final weeks at a hospice in Monmouth, the town in which he had attended school.

Sir Paul McCartney, who worked with him in three Beatles films, said he would miss Spinetti's "loyal friendship".

The actress Barbara Windsor was another close friend. Windsor said she and husband visited Spinetti at his hospice on Thursday.