Actor Corin Redgrave dies

(Getty)

Actor Corin Redgrave has died at the age of 70, his family said today.

The actor, who is known for his stage, TV and film work, died today surrounded by his family after being taken ill in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A statement issued by Redgrave's wife, Kika Markham, and family said: "Corin Redgrave has died today. He was taken ill at home in the early hours of Sunday morning.

"He died very peacefully surrounded by his family. We will miss him so very much."

A member of the famous acting dynasty, Redgrave was brother to Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave and the son of actor and director Michael Redgrave.

His daughter, from his first marriage to Deirdre Hamilton-Hill, is the actress Jemma Redgrave. Redgrave also had three sons.

He was uncle to film and TV star Joely Richardson and to Natasha Richardson, who died last year following a ski accident.

Redgrave notched up an impressive series of theatre roles, appearing at the National Theatre and the RSC among others.

His film roles included Hamish in Four Weddings And A Funeral and Cornwall in Excalibur.

TV credits included, most recently, The Turn Of The Screw last year and The Girl In The Cafe in 2005.

In recent years he also appeared in episodes of Spooks, Shameless, Foyle's War and Trial And Retribution.

Redgrave was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000.

Redgrave was also known for his political activism, embracing Marxism and campaigning against the Guantanamo Bay detentions.

He co-founded the Guantanamo Human Rights Commission with sister Vanessa to campaign for justice for those kept at the camp.

Redgrave won a Laurence Olivier award for his performance as Boss Whalen in the Tennessee Williams play Not About Nightingales in 1998.

He first appeared on stage at the Royal Court in 1961 in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, while his first film was the Oscar-winning A Man for All Seasons (1966).

Other film credits included Enduring Love, To Kill A King, In The Name Of The Father, and Enigma.

His early TV roles also included Octavius in a production of Antony And Cleopatra in 1974.

He also appeared as Old Jolyon in a remake of The Forsyte Saga in 2002.

Redgrave's family said they would "like to thank St George's Hospital (in London) for their care in his last few days".