Dirk Bogarde

SIR DIRK BOGARDE d1999. English actor and writer. Initially a matinee idol in films such as Doctor in The House (1954) for the Rank Organisation, he later acted in art-housefilms. In a second career, he wrote seven best-selling volumes of memoirs, six novels and a volume of collected journalism, mainly from articles in the Daily Telegraph. He first came to prominence in films including "The Blue Lamp" in the early 1950s, before starring in the successful "Doctor" film series (1954–63). He twice won the BAFTA Award for best leading actor for The Servant (1963) and Darling (1965). His other notable film roles included ; Victim (1961) / Accident (1967) / The Damned (1969) / Death in Venice (1971) / The Night Porter (1974) / A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Despair (1978). He was knighted in 1992. He died of a heart attack aged 78 in London in 1999.