Joss Ackland.Photo:Andrew Ogilvy/Alamy Stock Photo
Andrew Ogilvy/Alamy Stock Photo
Joss Ackland, an actor known for roles inLethal Weapon 2andThe Hunt for Red October, died at age 95.
A rep for the actor, Paul Pearson, confirmed to PEOPLE that Ackland died Sunday morning “with his family around.” Added Pearson, “He was lucid, erudite and mischievous to the end. I loved him deeply and, for me, he is the reason we have the word magnificent in the dictionary.”
They added, “He will be remembered as one of Britain’s most talented and beloved actors.”
In 1989’sLethal Weapon 2, which co-starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, Ackland’s villain Arjen Rudd delivered the memorable line ofdialogue, “Diplomatic immunity.”
Joss Ackland on Oct. 5, 2007.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
In addition to that action sequel and 1990’sThe Hunt for Red October,Ackland is also known for roles inBill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, White MischiefandThe Mighty Ducks.
Back in 2001, Ackland admitted to the Radio Times, according toThe Guardian, that he starred in “an awful lot of crap” over the years.
Joss Ackland in “Lethal Weapon 2” (1989).Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
“I do an awful lot of crap, but if it’s not immoral, I don’t mind. I’m a workaholic. Sometimes it’s a form of masochism,” he said at the time.
“I was inMad Dogs and Englishmen, a Liz Hurley thing, which was God-awful and quite rightly torn to shreds. Then there wasPassion of Mindlast year with Demi Moore. Terrible script — awful, actually, but I needed the money,” continued Ackland.
Joss Ackland, 1997.TriStar Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
TriStar Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
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About being type-cast as a villain, he added, “I’m so tired of not being able to make a movie without a car chase, or the villain dying twice. It’s all exactly the same.”
According toVariety, the actor’s wife Rosemary died in 2002. They’d been married for 51 years.
source: people.com
