Albert Finney dead: Bafta winning actor dies aged 82 after short illness

Bafta winning actor Albert Finney has died aged 82 after a short illness.

The actor was best known for his roles in Erin Brockovich, Murder On The Orient Express and Annie.

He most recently starred in the James Bond film Skyfall and the Bourne films.

A statement from his family said: "Albert Finney, aged 82, passed away peacefully after a short illness with those closest to him by his side."

Actor David Morrissey and comedian David Walliams were among those to pay tribute.

"The beautiful Albert Finney," Walliams wrote on Twitter.

Morrissey said: "One of the true great. Both on stage and screen. A powerhouse of an actor. A real hero of mine. RIP Albert Finney."

Bafta, which awarded Finney a Fellowship in 2001, posted: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Albert Finney.

"Finney will be warmly remembered for his powerful performances in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Tom Jones, Big Fish and many more."

Actor Rufus Sewell wrote: "Very sad to hear about Albert Finney. I had the enormous privilege of working with him early on.

"Apart from being effortlessly great he was also a great all round example of how to behave."

Five-time Oscar nominee Finney, who was born in Salford in 1936, made his movie debut with a small part in The Entertainer in 1960.

Director Tony Richardson then offered Finney the lead in kitchen-sink drama Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and period romp Tom Jones, which made him a major star.

Along with Tom Courtenay, he was part of the wave of working class actors who revolutionised British film and television at that time.

Finney went on to play the title role in Scrooge and Hercule Poirot in Murder On The Orient Express, which got him his second nomination, as well as Daddy Warbucks in Annie.

He earned consecutive nods in 1984 and 1985 for The Dresser and Under The Volcano, and his fifth came in 2001 for his role as lawyer Ed Masry in Erin Brockovich, in which he starred opposite Julia Roberts.

He also played Winston Churchill in the TV movie The Gathering Storm in 2002.

He received the Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy's highest honour, but reportedly turned down a knighthood.