Desmond Barrit, who starred in Holby City and Midsomer Murders, has died at the age of 81.
The actor portrayed the role of Raymond Clandillon in Season 10 of the hit ITV drama back in 2007.
In BBC One’s Holby City, Desmond played a character called Aubrey.
The star’s death has been confirmed by tributes online from production companies and actors.
A tribute shared by the National Theatre read: ‘Des brought his sublime talent and massive heart to everything from Shakespeare to Sondheim, new plays to raucous pantomime.
‘He was expertly funny. My introduction to Shakespeare was his legendary turn in Comedy of Errors at the RSC, playing both Antipholi twins with spellbinding energy.
‘He was a hilarious ringmaster announcing ‘Comedy Tonight’ in the National Theatre’s outstanding revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
‘But he could break hearts as well, and I had the privilege of directing him as a devastating Big Daddy in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof at the Theatr Clywd in 2016.
It concluded: ‘A generous and joyous man, he will be much missed.’
Elsewhere, Russell T Davies, screenwriter and Doctor Who showrunner, shared on Instagram that Des was a ‘great man’.
He wrote: ‘When I was young, Des was famous as the Dame in panto at the Swansea Grand. 1983, Babes in the Wood, he was Nurse Gladys Glucose! So it seemed impossible – and inspirational – that he could rise from that, to the greatest heights.
‘The RSC, the National, the Wizard in Wicked in the West End. Malvolio, Bottom, The History Boys, he did it all. He guested for us in It’s A Sin – a favour, really, in Ep.4, he was one of those awful Tories dining with Roscoe. And played it with relish!’
‘A giant, a lion, and a joy, he’ll be much missed’, he added.
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Desmond was born in Swansea. One of his earliest roles was Humpty Dumpty in Alice Through the Looking Glass from the late 90s.
In 2003, he appeared as Shylock in the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of The Merchant of Venice.
In the 2010s, the actor returned to his role in The History Boys at Wynham’s Theatre, playing a teacher called Hector.
In 2014, he appeared as Michaud in Helen Edmundson’s adaptation of Therese Raquin at the Theatre Royal in Bath.