George Cole dies aged 90
George Cole OBE has died at the age of 90.
Best remembered for his role as dodgy second-hand car dealer Arthur Daley in hit ITV comedy drama Minder, he died in hospital yesterday after a short illness.
Cole was also known and loved as Flash Harry, originating the spiv character in all four original St. Trinian's films, alongside star Alastair Sim, who had unofficially adopted George at the age of 16.
George Cole also starred in the titular role of David Bliss, in 118 episodes of the 1953 - 1969 BBC Home Service/Radio 4 sitcom, A Life Of Bliss, which also enjoyed a brief television outing.
In the mid-1980s he played the central character, Reg Dudgeon, in BBC Two sitcom Comrade Dad, imagining a Britain within the USSR; and from 1997 Cole played another father in two series of Dad, Andrew Marshall's sitcom exploring father-son relationships, alongside Kevin McNally.
Having served in the RAF during World War II, Cole's career covered film, television and radio. Non-comedy roles included featuring opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra.
Cole's Minder co-star Dennis Waterman said today: "I am so sad to hear of George's death. His family must be devastated, and I am absolutely certain that anybody who ever knew him, will feel the same.
"I'm so grateful to have been a friend of this wonderful man. We worked together for many years and my boast is that we laughed all day, every day. He was an amazing man, a wonderful actor and besotted with his family. I had the privilege of spending Tuesday afternoon with him and Penny and, although very frail, his wit was as evident as ever. Farewell old friend."
Cole's other comedy credits include Root Into Europe, Don't Forget To Write!, My Good Friend, The Bounder and The Green Man.
He died at the Royal Berkshire hospital on Wednesday 5th August, in the company of wife, Penny, and their son, Toby.
George Cole: My Autobiography - The World Was My Lobster is available to buy now.