Oscar-winning actor Sir John Mills dies aged 97




LONDON (AFP) - Veteran actor Sir John Mills, one of the country's most beloved and best-known screen stars who appeared in more than 100 films, died aged 97 after a brief illness.




"Sir John Mills died peacefully at home after a short illness," a member of his staff said in a brief statement Saturday.


The hugely respected stage, screen and television actor, whose career spanned more than 70 years, won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1971 for "Ryan's Daughter".


His family was travelling to Britain from the United States and was expected to arrive by Monday, the BBC reported.


Mills, whose daughter Hayley has also had a highly successful acting career, began in stage musical revues, being discovered by actor and composer Noel Coward.


He starred as Pip in the 1946 classic "Great Expectations", and was also renowned for appearing in a string of well-known war titles, including "Ice Cold in Alex", "Dunkirk" and "Tunes of Glory".


Mills once explained that he was opposed to war and thought that for the public "to be reminded of what happens because of wars is no bad thing".


Fellow acting veteran Lord Richard Attenborough said Mills was "almost unequalled as a world British movie star", adding that he was "adored" by everyone who had worked with him.


"There was no-one comparable really. He gave such a variety of impeccable performances," said Attenborough, whose first film role was a tiny part in 1942's "In Which Serve", starring Mills.


"I shall miss him very much but I shall not be alone. He will be hugely missed," Attenborough told BBC radio.


Queen Elizabeth II was "sorry" to hear of the death, a spokeswoman said, while Prime Minister Tony Blair said he had been "honoured" to be a friend of Mills.


"John Mills was a great actor, a true gentleman and a loyal friend; someone who made us proud to be British," Blair said in a statement.


"Over many decades and countless films he inspired us with his ability, warmth and spirit.


Mills is survived by his wife of 64 years, playwright Mary Hayley Bell, his son, Jonathan, and daughters Hayley and Juliette, the latter also an actress.


John and Mary Mills wed in 1941 and remained devoted to each other. Their wedding was a rushed, civil ceremony due to the war, and 60 years later they had the union blessed in a church.


After training as a dancer, Mills had his first taste of the stage in 1929 when he appeared in the chorus of "The Five O'Clock Review", later appearing in Coward's revues before switching to stage drama, notably Shakespeare.


He had some success in the United States -- notably with "Ryan's Daughter" -- but never regretted being based largely in Britain.





"I love it here, and my wife and I wouldn't be happy anywhere else," Mills once said.

"So, if I lived in Hollywood I would simply be rich and unhappy. What's the point in that?"

In later years, the actor's health began to fade, despite his pride in never putting on a pound in weight -- once a year he would try on a jacket bought in 1935 to make sure it still fitted him.

In 1992, the retinas in both his eyes failed, leaving Mills almost blind, although he continued acting, for example making a cameo in 2003 period drama "Bright Young Things", billed as "man taking cocaine at a party".

"I believe you'll find among actors of my generation that retirement is a dirty word," Mills once said.

"We are rather like old soldiers. We just fade away."

That's a shame. I can only remember ever seeing John Mills in one film where he played Michael, the village idiot in Ryan's Daughter. Ironic that he should win his only Oscar for a role in which he didn't speak and scarcely made a sound beyond whimpering after learning lines as part of his trade.

RIP

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Why? He's now in a magical land full of clouds and his dead friends and family with only the strict rules a bearded malelovent dictator to worry about.
Well that's what my mum told me when I was wee. She lied!? Why? WHY?? WHY???

Number23 said:

she didnt mean to lie... it was peer pressure

Number23 said:

I think you're thinking of nephew Crispian Mills.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Mach said:

She said my dog Trudy was there with my grandpa.