The veteran actor George Cole, best known for playing Arthur Daley opposite Dennis Waterman in Minder, has died aged 90.
The TV legend passed away in hospital in Reading in the UK with his family by his side.
His agent, Derek Webster, said: "It is with deep regret that I have to announce the sad death of one of our most loved and respected actors.
"George Cole passed away yesterday [Wednesday] at the Royal Berkshire Hospital after a short illness. His wife Penny and his son Toby were with him at his bedside."
Cole began performing on stage in music halls as a child and in a career spanning over seven decades was beloved by generations of television, radio, film and theatre audiences.
His great friend and mentor was his St Trinian's co-star Alastair Sim. They met in the theatre and Cole moved to Sim's home in Oxfordshire as a teenager to escape the Blitz. He would go on to build his own home next door to Sim's.
Cole found fame in the 1950s as Flash Harry in the St Trinian's films but will be best remembered as another iconic wheeler-dealer: Minder's used car salesman and disaster-prone entrepreneur Arthur Daley.
With Dennis Waterman as soft-hearted sidekick Terry McCann, the duo brought one of television's classic comedy partnerships to life. Minder ran from 1979 to 1994, with Gary Webster replacing Waterman in the final two series.
Among Cole's many other credits were Scrooge, The Green Man, Too Many Cooks, Cleopatra, Jackanory, The Sweeney, The Bounder, Blott on the Landscape, My Good Friend, New Tricks and Midsomer Murders. His last film, Road Rage, is due for release this year.
A fond farewell to the marvellous George Cole. Immaculate as the young Scrooge, joyous as Flash Harry, unforgettable as Arthur Daley. RIP
— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) August 6, 2015
When I found out that George Cole used to live in our flat, I dug out my old Minder poster. pic.twitter.com/5Xvf9qw1c9
— Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) August 6, 2015
