British actor Joss Ackland has died at the age of 95, his family said in a statement.
The prolific stage and screen actor, who has been in more than 100 movies and TV series, died “peacefully” and was “surrounded by family”, they said.
He was also described as a “beloved father” and had been married to his wife Rosemary for 51 years before she died in 2002.
The family statement said: “With his distinctive voice and commanding presence, Ackland brought a unique intensity and gravitas to his role.
“He will be remembered as one of Britain’s most talented and beloved actors.”
Joss Ackland cause of death
Joss Ackland died on November 19, 2023 at the age of 95.
The cause of his death was not officially announced, but he had been suffering from motor neurone disease (MND) for several years before his death.
MND is a progressive and incurable condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle weakness, speech problems, and difficulty breathing.
Ackland’s wife, Rosemary, also died from MND in 2002.
He is survived by his six children, 19 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
When is Joss Ackland funeral service
As of now, the funeral date of the Joss Ackland has not been disclosed by his family.
Having said that, we are still following up on his death, we will update you as soon as we get important information about Joss Ackland funeral service.
Who was Joss Ackland
Joss Ackland was born Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland in North Kensington, London, on 29 February 1928.
He is the son of Major Sydney Norman Ackland (died 1981), an Irish journalist who had been sent to England to live with an aunt by his parents for seducing their maid, but subsequently seduced his aunt’s maid, Ruth Izod (died 1957), whom he married.
He was trained by Elsie Fogerty at the Central School of Speech and Drama, then based at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Ackland and Rosemary Kirkcaldy were married on 18 August 1951, when Ackland was 23 and she was 22.
She was an actress and Ackland wooed her when they appeared on stage together in Pitlochry, Scotland.
The couple struggled initially as Ackland’s acting career was in its infancy.
In 1954 they moved to Lilongwe in what was then Nysaland, now Malawi, where Ackland managed a tea plantation for six months but, deciding it was too dangerous, they moved to Cape Town, South Africa.
Though they both obtained steady acting jobs in South Africa, after two years they returned to England in 1957.
Career
Joss Ackland was a distinguished English actor who had a long and versatile career in film, television, and theatre. Some of the highlights of his career are:
BAFTA nomination: He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for portraying Jock Delves Broughton in the 1987 film White Mischief, a historical drama about the scandalous lives of British aristocrats in Kenya.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: He worked opposite Alec Guinness in the 1979 television serial Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, playing Jerry Westerby, a sporting journalist and intermittent British espionage operative in the Cold War era.
Lethal Weapon 2: He played the ruthless South African diplomat and villain Arjen Rudd in the 1989 action film Lethal Weapon 2, opposite Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. He uttered the famous line “Diplomatic immunity!” before being shot by Glover’s character.
Shadowlands: He played the renowned author and scholar C.S. Lewis in the 1986 television version of Shadowlands, a biographical drama about Lewis’s relationship with American poet Joy Davidman. He reprised the role on stage in London’s West End in 1989.
Musical roles: He was also known for his musical roles, such as Captain Hook in the musical version of Peter Pan and Juan Peron in Evita. He also appeared in the musical films The Apple and A Zed & Two Noughts.
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