Actor Robert Vaughn dies aged 83

The actor passed away at the age of 83 of leukemia following an extensive career which spanned almost 60 years.

Best known for his TV work on shows such as Hustle and The Man From Uncle, Vaughn made his stage debut in 1955, in a production of The Pilgrimage Play.

Vaughn appeared in the UK most recently in the production of Twelve Angry Men, which opened at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 2013 and which transferred to the Garrick Theatre in 2014.

Vaughn played the character of Napoleon Solo in the TV series The Man From Uncle between 1964 and 1968. The spy show quickly became a classic and in 2004 he began playing a similar role in British BBC TV series Hustle.

Other famous roles included the villain in Superman III and in Bullitt and Towering Inferno, the latter two with Steve McQueen.

He died at his home in New York surrounded by friends and family.

Members of the theatre community have been reacting to the news on twitter with Stephen Fry commenting that Vaughn was "a fine actor… and an utterly charming man." Matt Lucas recalled working with Vaughn on Little Britain USA, saying "he was lovely and brilliant."

Oh no. Robert Vaughn, such a fine actor, one of the best Columbo villains (no higher praise than that) & an utterly charming man, has died.

#RobertVaughn Aside from the movies and Man From UNCLE, his stint on @BBCOne on #Hustle will be fondly remembered this side of the pond.

Me and @DavidWalliams were lucky enough to work with Robert Vaughn on ‘Little Britain USA’. He was lovely and brilliant. A great loss.

Sorry to hear the news about Robert Vaughn.