George Cole dead: Minder actor dies, aged 90

Cole died after a short illness

George Cole was best known for playing Arthur Daley (Rex Features)

George Cole, the actor best known for his role as Arthur Daley in the television series Minder, has died aged 90.

Agent Derek Webster said Cole passed away at the Royal Berkshire hospital after a short illness, surrounded by his family.

Mr Webster, who represents Cole's Minder co-star Dennis Waterman, 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 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital after a short illness. His wife Penny and his son Toby were with him at his bedside."

Cole was adopted when he was ten days old and grew up in south London. At 14, he was taken on by comedy star Alastair Sim and his wife Naomi and went on to star alongside him in a number of productions.

Cole played the wheeler-dealer character of Daley in the series from 1979 until the finale in 1994.

Minder explored the murky underworld of west London and followed Cole's character Daley after he hired ex-boxer Terry McCann, played by Waterman.

Cole, whose career spanned over seven decades, also appeared in four of the St Trinian's films in the 1950s and in 1963 starred opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra.