Great Escape actor Tom Adams dies aged 76

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/13/great-escape-actor-tom-adams-dies

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The veteran Great Escape actor Tom Adams has died at 76. The performer, who also starred in television shows including General Hospital and The Onedin Line, died on Thursday after battling cancer, his agent confirmed.

With a voice described as “rich and chocolatey” he also worked as a voice-over artist and was a long-running voice of E4, Emma Harvey said.

“A true gentleman, his personality was as big and warm as his voice,” she added. “We’ll miss him very much.”

Adams, who lived in Windsor, was a young actor when he landed the role of Dai Nimmo, the RAF officer in charge of diversions in The Great Escape.

The 1963 classic Second World War drama about a mass breakout from a PoW camp saw him star opposite Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough and James Garner.

He went on to have a feature role as Guy Marshall in 1960s medical drama Emergency-Ward 10. Later he played Sir Daniel Fogarty in The Onedin Line.

He died at Slough’s Wexham Park Hospital.

His friend, director Kate Wilson, recalled times when Adams came to stay. “Ahhh, the chocolate of his voice sliding down the stairs … the man was a legend,” she said. “For anyone who knew him, his face, voice and presence will be sorely missed. Handsome to the end.”