David Warner, the British actor whose nearly 60 year long film career included roles in The Omen, Tron and Titanic, died on Sunday. He was 80. Warner passed away at London's Denville Hall, a retirement home for professional actors, following a battle with cancer.
"Over the past 18 months he approached his diagnosis with a characteristic grace and dignity," the family said in a statement to the BBC. "He will be missed hugely by us, his family and friends, and remembered as a kind-hearted, generous and compassionate man, partner and father, whose legacy of extraordinary work has touched the lives of so many over the years. We are heartbroken."
Born on July 29, 1941 in Manchester, England, Warner studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his stage debut in 1962 as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company. His film debut came the following year in director Tony Richardson's Tom Jones, which won four Oscars at the 36th Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Director).
Warner is perhaps best known for his work in 1976's The Omen, playing Keith Jennings opposite Gregory Peck's Robert Thorn; in 1982's TRON, as villainous ENCOM executive Ed Dillinger; and in 1997's Titanic, as Spicer Lovejoy, valet and bodyguard to Billy Zane's Caledon Hockley. Titanic won Best Picture at the 70th Oscars, among 11 total wins.
The actor is also remembered for multiple roles in the Star Trek universe, first in 1989's Star Trek V: The Final Frontier as Federation diplomat St. John Talbot. In 1991's Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, he took on a new role as the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon, and then in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, yet another new character, Gul Madred.
Warner's final film appearance was in 2018's Mary Poppins Returns, assuming the role of Admiral Boom. "So glad to have been able to express my admiration for David Warner's incredible versatility and career in our time together on set," co-star Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted upon news of Warner's passing. "My goodness, what a life and legacy."
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