Sir John Hurt’s wife, Anwen, has led tributes to the veteran actor after he died at the age of 77.
The Bafta-winning star, known for his roles in Alien and The Elephant Man, had been treated for pancreatic cancer in 2015.
Sir John’s wife said he had brought “joy and magic” and it would be a “strange world without him”.
He recently starred as Father Richard McSorley in Jackie, the biopic of President John F Kennedy’s wife.
Despite being given the all-clear from cancer, he last year pulled out of Sir Kenneth Branagh’s production of The Entertainer on the advice of his doctors.
Lady Hurt confirmed Sir John had died on Wednesday at his home in Norfolk.
“John was the most sublime of actors and the most gentlemanly of gentlemen with the greatest of hearts and the most generosity of spirit,” she said in a statement.
“He touched all our lives with joy and magic and it will be a strange world without him.”
US director Mel Brooks described Sir John as “cinematic immortality”, as tributes poured in for the star.
Brooks paid tribute to Sir John, who had starred in his comedy Spaceballs, saying on Twitter: “No one could have played The Elephant Man more memorably.”
He added: “He carried that film into cinematic immortality. He will be sorely missed.”
Sir John also played the part of wand-maker Mr Ollivander in the Harry Potter films.
Author of the books, JK Rowling, tweeted: “So very sad to hear that the immensely talented and deeply beloved John Hurt has died. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
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