Actor Albert Finney has died at the age of 82 with his wife and son by his side sparking an outpouring of grief over the loss of one of British cinema's 'true greats'.
The star, who played Ebenezer Scrooge, Sir Winston Churchill and 'Daddy' Warbucks in Annie in a long and extraordinary career, died after a short illness.
Finney, who beat kidney cancer in 2011, had spent the past month in Britain's top cancer hospital - the Royal Marsden in London - before succumbing to a chest infection yesterday.
A statement from a family spokesman said: 'He passed away peacefully after a short illness with those closest to him by his side.'
He lived in the Hampshire seaside town of Emsworth and was married three times, to actresses Jane Wenham and Anouk Aimeé and finally to travel agent Pene Delmage in 2006, who has survived him with his son Simon, from his first marriage.
Actor David Morrissey was among the many who paid tribute to Finney on social media today and tweeted: 'One of the true greats. A powerhouse of an actor'.
Finney, a bookmaker's son born and educated in Salford, Greater Manchester, rose to worldwide stardom after his breakthrough hit Saturday Night And Sunday Morning in 1960 - but despite being nominated for Oscars five times in his career he never won.
He was known as British cinema's original 'angry young man' and starred alongside Liza Minelli, Audrey Hepburn and Julia Roberts, but considered himself anti-establishment and twice turned down honours - a CBE in 1980 and a knighthood in 2000.
He had battled health problems in recent years but survived a kidney cancer scare in 2011 - but it is not known if the disease had returned.
Mr Finney with his third wife Pene Delmage, who he married in 2006 and survives her husband with his only son Simon
Actor Albert Finney has died at the age of 82, after an extraordinary career in theatre and film including as as Sir Winston Churchill (right)
British film and stage actor Albert Finney enjoying a glass of beer in his regular pub behind the Cambridge Theatre in London in 1961
Liza Minnelli and Albert Finney in an intimate moment during the film Charlie Bubbles, 1967
Albert Finney kisses Audrey Hepburn in the movie Two For The Road made in 1967
Albert Finney won plaudits for his portrayal of Dicken's miser Ebenezer Scrooge in 'Scrooge' in 1970. Bafta remembered the actor today, who was honoured with a Bafta Fellowship in 2001 (pictured right)
Actor Rufus Sewell tweeted: 'Very sad to hear about Albert Finney. I had the enormous privilege of working with him early on. Apart from being effortlessly great he was also a great all round example of how to behave'.
Bafta also remembered the actor, who was honoured with a Bafta Fellowship in 2001.
They said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Albert Finney. The recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship in 2001, Finney will be warmly remembered for his powerful performances in Saturday Night And Sunday Morning, Tom Jones, Big Fish and many more'.
Albert Finney was adored for his wide variety of roles that crossed generations but will always be remembered as one of the 'angry young men' in the working class film and theatre renaissance of the early 1960s.
He was part of a new wave of actors in the movement sparked in the mid-1950s by working class and middle class novelists and playwrights, starring in Saturday Night And Sunday Morning in 1960, one of the first gritty kitchen-sink dramas.
A five-time Oscar nominee who could seemingly play any character offered to him, Finney was also known for roles in films including Tom Jones, Murder On The Orient Express, Annie, Erin Brockovich, Skyfall, two of the Bourne films and Big Fish.
In one of his lesser TV roles in The Gathering Storm, he won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Winston Churchill.
Albert Finney became a pin-up as Arthur Seaton and Welsh actress Rachel Roberts, as Brenda, in 'Saturday Night And Sunday
