Catholic actor Frank Finlay has died

Frank Finlay OBE

Tributes have been pouring in to the distinguished Catholic actor Frank Finlay, who has died aged 89.

Finlay, who starred in a wide range of productions on stage and screen with many of the leading actors of his generation - among them Sir Laurence Olivier, Oliver Reed, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith has been hailed 'an astonishing actor' with a 'wonderfully fiery presence on stage and screen'.

He died on Saturday, 30th January 2016 at home surrounded by his family. He was a fine actor and will be very much missed by his friends and family, according to website www.frankfinlay.net

Frank Finlay was vice president of the Catholic Association of Performing Arts (formerly the Catholic Stage Guild).

Michael Slater, Master of Ceremonies of the Association, said: "Frank was a much-loved member of CAPA and regularly came to our annual dinner at Allen Hall. He was there as recently as last December. In his last years It was a privilege for me to hold his hand as we walked to the mulberry tree after dinner and offered prayers to St Thomas More.

"He was a very committed Catholic and great supporter of Corpus Christi in Covent Garden - the church where he was married. He would often slip in there to pray.

"As vice president he was always generous with his time and commitment, A professional to his fingertips - I remember once when he was going to read at St James Spanish Place I asked him whether he would like to try the space in the pulpit and it took him five minutes to prepare.

"One of my greatest memories of him as an actor was as Iago with Sir Laurence Olivier's Othello at the National Theatre. As he made his exit, carried by two men, with his legs dangling, he was the total personification of evil.

"His TV successes included Bouquet of Barbed Wire. He was superb in Filumena, at the Lyric with Joan Plowright, directed by Zefirelli. Another brilliant role was in Amadeus where he played Salieri with Richard O'Callaghan, the chair or CAPA as Mozart.

Bond legend Sir Roger Moore posted: "Frank was a great co-star in The Wild Geese."

Actor and presenter Alexander Armstrong added: "Oh Lord, and Frank Finlay too. My father-in-law in Life Begins, an astonishing actor and wonderful man. What a sad, sad day."

The League of Gentlemen and Sherlock star Mark Gatiss tweeted: "Bouquets to the great Frank Finlay. Musketeer, vampire hunter, green-eyed Iago. A wonderfully fiery presence on stage and screen. RIP."

Finlay's grandson Josh Coombes, drummer for the band Tigress, tweeted: "RIP my Grandfather Frank Finlay CBE. Funny, loving, amazing storyteller, inspiration and one of the best actors this country has ever seen."

Frank Finlay was married to Doreen Shepherd, who died in 2005. They had three children, Stephen, Cathy and Daniel, and lived in Shepperton, Middlesex.

Finlay was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours of 1984.

A full obituary will follow soon.