‘His name and talent will long be remembered’: Sir Tim Rice and Elaine Paige lead tributes to British actor Joss Ackland after he dies aged 95 after memorable career including famous ‘diplomatic immunity’ Lethal Weapon scene as well as Bill & Ted film

Sir Tim Rice and Elaine Paige have led the tributes to British actor Joss Ackland who has died aged 95 after a memorable career which included the famous ‘diplomatic immunity’ Lethal Weapon scene. 

The Bafta-nominated actor’s agent Paul Pearson confirmed his death due to ‘old age’ yesterday to The Hollywood Reporter. 

The Hunt for Red October’s star was surrounded by his family with Mr Pearson describing him as ‘lucid, erudite and mischievous to the end’. 

Ackland’s dazzling six-decade career saw him rack up appearances in more than 130 film and television roles, most notably sharing the silver screen alongside Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in 1989 film Lethal Weapon 2.

In the movie the prolific actor played corrupt South African minister Arjen Rudd who tries to claim ‘diplomatic immunity’ in the film’s climax, only for Glover’s character Roger Murtaugh to shoot him in the head and say: ‘Has just been revoked.’

Joss Ackland in his role as corrupt South African minister Arjen Rudd in 1989 film Lethal Weapon 2 with the memorable ‘diplomatic immunity’ scene

Sir Tim Rice was among those to pay tribute on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, describing him as a ‘lovely chap’

Elaine Paige starred alongside Ackland in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Evita. She called him a ‘brilliant actor and a simply wonderful person’

He was cast as Argentinian president Juan Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita in 1978 and starred alongside Elaine Paige who played Peron’s wife, Eva.

She led the tributes to Ackland yesterday, sharing a black and white photo of the pair in the musical on her X account.

READ MORE: Inside Joss Ackland’s adoring family life: Britain’s beloved actor was married for 51 years and had seven children, 34 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren – as he leaves behind an everlasting legacy following death at 95

She wrote: ‘A brilliant actor and a simply wonderful person. So kind & supportive. RIP dear Joss. You will be missed.’ 

Songwriter Sir Tim Rice worked with Lloyd Webber on the stage production. Paying tribute to Ackland, he wrote on X: ‘Great actor, lovely chap. His performance as Peron in Evita such an important contribution to the good fortune that show enjoyed.

‘And he played so many other roles with distinction, humour & grace from the late 1940s on. His name & talent will be long remembered.’ 

Throughout his career, Ackland starred along a number of A-list actors, including Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery in The Hunt for Red October.

Ackland died ‘peacefully surrounded by family’, his loved ones confirmed yesterday evening.

The actor, who was made a CBE for services to drama in 2001, also spent much of his career on stage, starring alongside other British greats such as Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench and Tom Courtenay. 

While he spent much of his time mingling with the greats, Ackland was also a ‘beloved father’ and had been married to his wife Rosemary for 51 years before she died from motor neurone disease in 2002. 

The star leaves behind seven children, 34 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. 

Ackland was a prolific actor with roles in more than 130 films and television shows. He starred along a number of A-list actors, including Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery in The Hunt for Red October

Ackland in Gerry Anderson’s action thriller The Protectors. The ITV show ran from 197 to 1974 

Ackland, who appeared in over 130 film and television roles throughout his six-decade-long career

Ackland with his wife Rosemary 

A statement read: ‘With his distinctive voice and commanding presence, Ackland brought a unique intensity and gravitas to his roles.

‘He will be remembered as one of Britain’s most talented and beloved actors.’

The BAFTA nominated actor was born on February 29 1928 in London’s Ladbroke Grove area. He grew up in Kilburn, north London, with his brother Paddy and sister Barbara.

After attending London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, he made his professional debut on stage at just 17-years-old, starring in the 1945 production of The Hasty Heart. 

Five years later he made his first appearance on film as an extra on the Oscar-winning thriller Seven Days to Noon. He then went onto make his first credited debut in Vernon Sewell’s 1952 Ghost Ship, where he played a supporting role.

For much of the 1950s, however, Ackland continued perfecting his roles in the threatre, before packing up his career for a brief period and moving to Africa with his wife.

The pair embarked on a seven-week voyage by cargo boat to Beira before travelling to Malawi where they began working on a tea plantation at the foot of M’lanje mountain.

Ackland stars alongside Michael York in the 1974 version of Great Expectations 

Ackland starring in ‘Heat of the Sun’ in 1998 alongside Trevor Eve and Susannah Harker 

The screen and stage actor pictured with Elaine Paige as they starred in the 1978 production of Evita 

Ackland stars alongside Pauline Collins in The Colonel’s Lady in 1988 

After six-months, the couple decided to move to South Africa where Ackland would try to find theatre work. 

They remained their for more than two years until 1957 when police raided their flat confiscating the children’s book Black Beauty over fears that it was subversive of apartheid. 

‘Then one day we were raided by the police and they confiscated a book, Black Beauty, because the horse was black! I was faced with prison, so I got out in a hurry,’ he previously told the Mail.

It was when they arrived back to England that Ackland joined the Old Vic and his career began to soar. 

His stage career away from the Old Vic included the role of Juan Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita and starring opposite Hermione Gingold in the London production of A Little Night Music.

In 2015, Ackland read out a letter for Letters Live at Freemasons’ Hall which was addressed to his, at the time of writing, future wife Rosemary.

His TV credits included an appearance in the The Avengers, a 1960s spy show about the suave British agent John Steed.

He also appeared in one of the Hammer Horror films, as a bishop in Rasputin: The Mad Monk in 1966.

He continued to act in the noughties and in 2002 he starred as Marshal Zelentsov in thriller film K-19: The Widowmaker, alongside US actor Harrison Ford.

His most recent credits include appearances in TV mini series Pinocchio in 2009, film Prisoners Of The Sun in 2013 and movie Fall Of An Empire: The Story Of Katherine Of Alexandria, also called Decline Of An Empire, in 2014.

Throughout his life, he worked with a long list of stars from all over the world.

A biography written years ago declared: ‘His stage and screen lovers were Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Jean Simmons, Demi Moore, Claire Bloom, Glynis Johns, Shirley Maclaine, Greta Scacchi, Barbara Cook, Anouk Aimée, Dorothy Tutin and Denholm Elliott.’

But his family remained his focal point: ‘His longest-running mate was Rosemary Kirkcaldy. They produced seven children, 32 grandchildren, and ten great–grandchildren.’

When his wife Rosemary, also an actress, died in 2002, he said he ‘couldn’t face’ facet he stage initially.  

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