This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/8394812.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Dam Busters star Todd dies at 90 | Dam Busters star Todd dies at 90 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Richard Todd, best known for his role in classic war film The Dam Busters, has died at the age of 90, after a battle with cancer. | Richard Todd, best known for his role in classic war film The Dam Busters, has died at the age of 90, after a battle with cancer. |
| Todd, a war hero in his own right, was also known for playing dashing heroes like Robin Hood and Rob Roy. | Todd, a war hero in his own right, was also known for playing dashing heroes like Robin Hood and Rob Roy. |
| Born in Dublin in 1919, Todd was one of the first British soldiers to parachute into France on D-Day. | Born in Dublin in 1919, Todd was one of the first British soldiers to parachute into France on D-Day. |
| A spokesman for his family said he died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday at his home near Grantham in Lincolnshire. | A spokesman for his family said he died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday at his home near Grantham in Lincolnshire. |
| Earlier this year, he celebrated his 90th birthday with a quiet gathering near his home. | Earlier this year, he celebrated his 90th birthday with a quiet gathering near his home. |
| A spokesman said he "had been suffering from cancer, an illness that he bore with his habitual courage and dignity. | |
| "His family were with him throughout." | "His family were with him throughout." |
| Director Michael Winner, who worked with Todd in 1978 thriller The Big Sleep described him as "a splendid person and a very, very good actor." | |
| "Richard Todd was the most wonderful type of British stiff upper lip acting," he said. | |
| "He was a good friend and wonderful to work with, utterly professional, very quiet, just got on with it." | |
| Tragedy | Tragedy |
| Made in 1955, The Dam Busters told of the development of the bouncing bomb used during World War II to destroy the Ruhr dams in Germany. | Made in 1955, The Dam Busters told of the development of the bouncing bomb used during World War II to destroy the Ruhr dams in Germany. |
| Todd played Wing Commander Guy Gibson, leader of the 1943 mission codenamed Operation Chastise. | Todd played Wing Commander Guy Gibson, leader of the 1943 mission codenamed Operation Chastise. |
| Todd was seen with Nerys Hughes (l) in his four Doctor Who episodes | Todd was seen with Nerys Hughes (l) in his four Doctor Who episodes |
| The actor, who was made an OBE in 1993, was last seen on screen in a 2007 episode of ITV drama Heartbeat. | The actor, who was made an OBE in 1993, was last seen on screen in a 2007 episode of ITV drama Heartbeat. |
| In later life, he experienced personal tragedy when two of his sons committed suicide. | In later life, he experienced personal tragedy when two of his sons committed suicide. |
| Todd's other movies include the Alfred Hitchcock thriller Stage Fright and the 1962 war film The Longest Day. | Todd's other movies include the Alfred Hitchcock thriller Stage Fright and the 1962 war film The Longest Day. |
| He also appeared in four episodes of Doctor Who in the 1980s, opposite Peter Davison's Doctor. | He also appeared in four episodes of Doctor Who in the 1980s, opposite Peter Davison's Doctor. |
| In 1950, he was nominated for the best actor Oscar for his work opposite future US president Ronald Reagan in The Hasty Heart. | In 1950, he was nominated for the best actor Oscar for his work opposite future US president Ronald Reagan in The Hasty Heart. |
| 'Daring deeds' | 'Daring deeds' |
| It was around this time that he first worked for the Disney studio, an association that led him to be named a "Disney Legend" in 2002. | |
| Todd would later make light of his roles in The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, The Sword and the Rose and Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue - selected as the Royal Film in 1953. | Todd would later make light of his roles in The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, The Sword and the Rose and Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue - selected as the Royal Film in 1953. |
| "My image was all daring deeds, until my swash began to buckle a bit," he remembered. | "My image was all daring deeds, until my swash began to buckle a bit," he remembered. |
| The actor, whose full name was Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd, began acting on stage in 1937. | The actor, whose full name was Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd, began acting on stage in 1937. |
| With the outbreak of World War II, however, he volunteered for duty, serving with distinction in the Army, the Infantry and the Parachute Regiment. | With the outbreak of World War II, however, he volunteered for duty, serving with distinction in the Army, the Infantry and the Parachute Regiment. |
| Todd's youngest son Seamus shot himself in 1997 at the age of 20. | Todd's youngest son Seamus shot himself in 1997 at the age of 20. |
| Eight years later, Todd's eldest son Peter also took his own life after suffering depression. | Eight years later, Todd's eldest son Peter also took his own life after suffering depression. |