Screen legend Sir John Mills dies

The Oscar-winning actor, who starred in more than 100 films, died at his home in Denham following a short illness.

Apr 25 2005

Sir John Mills, Oscar-winning star of stage and screen, died on Saturday (April 23) aged 97.

An acting legend whose career spanned more than 70 years and 100 films, he passed away at his home in Denham following a short illness.

Sir John, who was knighted in 1976, was best known for the many war films he made during the 1940s and '50s, including 'Ice Cold in Alex', 'Dunkirk', 'The Way to the Stars' and 'In Which We Serve'.

Indeed he appeared in so many such films that Mills once joked that he'd acted opposite more submarines than leading ladies.

Sir John also excelled as Pip in David Lean's adaptation of 'Great Expectations', and won an Oscar in 1971 for another Lean classic, 'Ryan's Daughter'.

Often cast as the archetypal English gent throughout his career, he continued to work right up until 2003, when he appeared in Stephen Fry's 'Bright Young Things' playing – what else – an English aristocrat.

Speaking of his death, Sir John's great friend and frequent co-star Lord Richard Attenborough said he was a truly remarkable man, adding: 'He was almost unequalled as a British movie star. There was no one comparable.'

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