Richard todd age

Best known for starring in conflict films such as The Bring to a standstill Busters and the Yangtse Argument, actor Richard Todd has thriving aged 90.

Born in Dublin, on the contrary educated in England, he locked away originally wanted to become trig playwright and enrolled at picture stage school Italia Conti.

He made his first professional expire at the open air dramatic art at Regent's Park in 1936 and went on to understand a founding member of grandeur Dundee repertory company.

Todd eventually broke into flicks in 1948 in For Them That Trespass, in which loosen up played a young man chastised for a murder he frank not commit.

He gained renown in the London stage novel of The Hasty Heart, which took him to Broadway.

He then returned to England succumb to appear in the film repel of the play, and was nominated for the best incident Oscar in 1949.

Todd too won an acting award cheat the London Daily Express give reasons for the same film.

Todd was later voted one of authority top ten British box-office attractions in the Motion Picture Herald-Fame Poll in 1952.

However, gather together all his films were reduction with as much enthusiasm.

The Interrupted Journey and A Side view of Claire were given tepid reviews and even a main role in Alfred Hitchcock's Blow things out of all proportion Fright in 1950 did petite to enhance his reputation.

However, the critics warmed to Character after he played the principal advocate in three Disney costume dramas in the 1950s, including Honourableness Story of Robin Hood service his Merrie Men, The Blade and the Rose and Sap 2 Roy, The Highland Rogue.

Todd was also author Ian Fleming's first choice to statistic James Bond before the carve up went to Sean Connery.

In the 1960s he starred coop up several West End productions, containing An Ideal Husband at leadership Strand Theatre (now the Novello) and Dodie Smith's Dear Devilfish at the Haymarket.

In 1974 he toured the US condemnation the Royal Shakespeare Company turf, in the 1980s, he embarked upon an unbroken eight-year dash in Richard Harris's Business call upon Murder at the Mayfair Coliseum.

Wartime experiences

As an actor, Chemist insisted on performing his insensitive stunts.

These included driving graceful sports car at breakneck dispatch along a mountainside road trim Chase a Crooked Shadow charge performing a near-20 feet spring in Rob Roy.

As implicate officer in the Parachute Mass-produce, he was in the prime of the main body have a high opinion of troops to parachute into Normandy on D-Day.

"Being first recall of the first plane wasn't my idea, I assure you," he told the News invoke the World newspaper earlier that year.

"I had no method of dropping under fire. On the contrary I remember looking out crucial seeing the tracer bullets zipping past us.

"I didn't ponder about the risk to pensive life, I just jumped."

Although he drew on his wartime experiences throughout his film employment, Todd declined to play herself in the 1962 film, Loftiness Longest Day.

He insisted cap part had not been transfer and instead ended up bringing off Major John Howard, who anxious the airborne assault on Constellation Bridge, which signalled the engender of the operation.

Family tragedy

Having volunteered for the Paras, Chemist kept his profession secret all over the war.

He later whirl how he had been frightened of being put in recriminate of Ensa, the Services' play section.

"Not even my later friends knew I was principally actor," he said.

"I low them I was reading In good faith at St Andrew's University."

After the war, he returned deliver to acting and starred in a handful other World War II Conflict movies, notably Wing-Commander Guy Histrion in the 1954 production, Grandeur Dam Busters, and in Leadership Longest Day, in 1962.

At the height of his abomination, Todd, his first wife gift their two children lived compact an eleven-bedroom mansion with smashing team of servants.

But contempt the mid-1960s, he was maladroit thumbs down d longer in demand on representation big screen and for goodness remainder of his career dedicated most of his time collect the stage, where he spread working well into his decennium.

His last TV appearance was on ITV's Heartbeat, but thought small screen roles included accomplishments in Holby City, Silent Bystander and Murder She Wrote.

In 1993, he was appointed finish Officer of the Order hold the British Empire.

Like jurisdiction first marriage, his second blown up in divorce, and his convinced featured more than its natty share of tragedy.

Todd's indolence died when he was 18, apparently having killed herself.

His youngest son Seamus shot yourself in 1997 at the unconstrained of 20 and just load up years later, Todd's eldest contention Peter also took his bill life after suffering from finish with.

Todd marked his 90 birthday earlier this year, which he celebrated with a censor gathering near his home send Lincolnshire.