The award-winning theatre and film actor Antony Sher has passed away at the age of 72 after suffering from cancer, the Royal Shakespeare Company announced on Friday.
South Africa-born Sher was widely considered one of Britain's finest contemporary actors, playing almost all the great Shakespearean roles from King Lear to Shylock.
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In 1985, he won an Olivier Award for his energetic portrayal of Richard III as a villainous hunchback, propelling himself around the stage on crutches.
He was in several successful movies, including ‘Shakespeare In Love’ and was once described by Prince Charles as his favourite actor.
While at the RSC, Sher met his husband, Gregory Doran, who would become the company's artistic director. AFP