British actor John Wood dies at 81

John Wood – who won a Tony award in 1976 and appeared in numerous films and TV dramas and appeared in films such The Madness of King George and Shadowlands – has died at the age of 81.

Wood, who was made a CBE in 2007 for services to drama, won the Tony for his role in a Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's Travesties. The Derbyshire-born star died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, his agent said.

A statement from his agent said: “John was a distinguished classical actor, who was much loved and respected by his colleagues, and will be greatly missed.”

His other TV credits include Goodnight Mr Chips, Foyle's War, Love in a Cold Climate and Kavanagh QC. Wood received two other Tony nominations during his career, one for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in 1968 and another for Sherlock Holmes.

Wood was nominated for an Olivier Award in 1997 for the role of AE Housman in Stoppard's The Invention of Love.

Photo: John Wood in Orlando

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.