Victor Spinetti at a gala for Oliver! in 2009 (photo: Dan Wooller)
Tweet

Stage & screen star Victor Spinetti dies aged 82

Actor Victor Spinetti, who enjoyed a prolific career on stage and screen, has died aged 82 from cancer.

The Welsh-born star rose to prominence in Joan Littlewood's productions of Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be (1959) and Oh! What a Lovely War (1961), winning a Tony Award when the latter transferred to Broadway.

He found international fame in the 1960s when he appeared in three films with his friends The Beatles (A Hard Day's Night, Help! and Magical Mystery Tour), and went on to star in over 30 films including Under Milk Wood with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Becket, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Krays.

In the West End his acting credits included Candide, The Odd Couple and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and he appeared in several productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He toured regularly with his one man shows and as recently as 2011 appeared in a touring production of spoof whodunit Murdered to Death.

He was also a prolific director, with myriad credits including international productions of musicals Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair, and the premiere of John Lennon: In His Own Write at the National Theatre.

“
One of the kindest, funniest, most generous people in this business”
Michael Ball

Whatsonstage.com chief critic Michael Coveney said he was a "witty, voluble, talented and very funny" actor, who was held in "great affection by the industry".

Spinetti’s agent, Barry Burnett, said today: “He had cancer for a year, but he was very cheerful to the end. I spoke to him on Friday and he was talking about his plans and everything.”

- by Theo Bosanquet

Related Content

Internal Links
	Murdered to Death (Poole) - 19th Jan 2011 Reviews
	Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - 8th Dec 2004 Reviews

Reader Comments