David Warner, an actor who appeared in films such as The Omen and Tron, has died at the age of 80 due to a cancer-related illness.
In James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster Titanic, Warner played Billy Zane’s villainous sidekick Spicer Lovejoy. He was also notable for playing the role of Billy Zane’s nemesis in Titanic (1997).
Warner died at Denville Hall, a care facility for those in the entertainment industry, on Sunday. “He faced his illness with bravery and fortitude,” his family told the BBC in a statement.
A prolific television, film and stage actor, John Warner began his career on stage before moving to the silver screen. He frequently played the villain in films such as The Thirty-Nine Steps (1978) and Time Bandits (1981).
Many will recall his role as photographer Keith Jennings, who met an ill-fated demise in The Omen’s supernatural classic in 1976.
Warner deadpanned, in an interview for a program on horror movies presented by Mark Gatiss, when asked if he knew what had happened to his head: “I lost it during the divorce.” In George C Scott’s 1984 version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Warner played Bob Cratchit. It was a pleasure to play a character.
He subsequently went on to work in film, television and theater. He had a long career in show business, appearing in numerous films, including Wallander – as the father of Kenneth Branagh’s character – Penny Dreadful, Ripper Street, Doctor Who, and Twin Peaks.
His IMDb page lists him as having appeared in almost fifty feature films and six television series. He also performed numerous roles in the Star Trek franchise and starred in several Doctor Who audio dramas.
With a Bafta nod for his leading performance in Karel Reisz’s 1966 film Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment, opposite Vanessa Redgrave, the Mancunian was recognized early in his career.
He went on to win an Emmy in 1981 for outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or special for his portrayal of Pomponius Falco in the television miniseries Masada. Early on in his career, the Rada-trained British star was recognized for title roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Henry VI and Hamlet.
According to a statement from Gregory Doran, the artistic director emeritus of the RSC, I’m sorry to hear that David Warner has died.
“David’s most iconic role for the RSC was as Hamlet in 1965, directed by Peter Hall, with Glenda Jackson as Ophelia, and Elizabeth Spriggs as Gertrude, with Brewster Mason as Claudius and the Ghost.
“A tortured student, in his long orange scarf, David seemed the epitome of 1960s youth, and caught the radical spirit of a turbulent age.
“He was a generous spirit, a kind man, and a huge talent.”
Jesse Eisenberg grew up in a “chaotic” and “messy” household, with an “abusive” father. The actor has stated that becoming an actor was simply a form of escapism for him.
Warner revealed he had a mentor who fostered his passion for acting, and that it was a decision between performing or “growing up to be a juvenile delinquent.”
He was survived by his wife, “his devoted companion Lisa Bowerman, his much-loved son Luke and daughter-in-law Sarah, [and] his good friend Jane Spencer Prior”, as well as “by Harriet Evans and all of his gold dust pals”.
