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/6449881.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Avengers actor Gareth Hunt dies | Avengers actor Gareth Hunt dies |
| (5 days later) | |
| Actor Gareth Hunt, star of The New Avengers, has died of pancreatic cancer aged 65, his agent has announced. | Actor Gareth Hunt, star of The New Avengers, has died of pancreatic cancer aged 65, his agent has announced. |
| Hunt played the role of Mike Gambit in the TV series, alongside Joanna Lumley's Purdey and Patrick Macnee as John Steed. | Hunt played the role of Mike Gambit in the TV series, alongside Joanna Lumley's Purdey and Patrick Macnee as John Steed. |
| Lumley paid tribute to her "dear friend" who she said was "loved by everyone who knew him". | Lumley paid tribute to her "dear friend" who she said was "loved by everyone who knew him". |
| In later years Hunt became well known as the face of Nescafe with a trademark handshake to reveal coffee beans. | In later years Hunt became well known as the face of Nescafe with a trademark handshake to reveal coffee beans. |
| He also had a roles in Doctor Who, Upstairs Downstairs and briefly appeared in EastEnders in 2001. | He also had a roles in Doctor Who, Upstairs Downstairs and briefly appeared in EastEnders in 2001. |
| A statement from his agent said he died at his home in Redhill, Surrey, adding: "He fought the disease with great courage and through his strength of character and his wonderful sense of humour he continued to work right up until the end of 2006." | A statement from his agent said he died at his home in Redhill, Surrey, adding: "He fought the disease with great courage and through his strength of character and his wonderful sense of humour he continued to work right up until the end of 2006." |
| Hunt played a crime boss in EastEnders | Hunt played a crime boss in EastEnders |
| Lumley said: "Gareth was also a very good actor, which was often overlooked. He started life in the RSC and he was just terrific. | Lumley said: "Gareth was also a very good actor, which was often overlooked. He started life in the RSC and he was just terrific. |
| "He kept his illness quiet, only his family and a few close friends knew. I went out with him for his birthday in February and he was pretty frail but still hysterically funny." | "He kept his illness quiet, only his family and a few close friends knew. I went out with him for his birthday in February and he was pretty frail but still hysterically funny." |
| Hunt is survived by his wife, Amanda, and three sons. | Hunt is survived by his wife, Amanda, and three sons. |
| After small roles with the RSC he landed a part in the popular drama Upstairs Downstairs. | After small roles with the RSC he landed a part in the popular drama Upstairs Downstairs. |
| He played Frederick Norton, a soldier who finds employment as a footman. | He played Frederick Norton, a soldier who finds employment as a footman. |
| But he entered the limelight proper in The New Avengers, which ran for two seasons in 1976-77 with Patrick Macnee returning from the original series. | |
| Hunt's character Gambit was an expert marksman and athlete and his verbal sparring with Purdey became a running theme. | Hunt's character Gambit was an expert marksman and athlete and his verbal sparring with Purdey became a running theme. |
| He appeared in EastEnders as crime boss Ritchie Stringer and was one of the suspects in the shooting of Phil Mitchell. | He appeared in EastEnders as crime boss Ritchie Stringer and was one of the suspects in the shooting of Phil Mitchell. |