David Warner, 'one of the best character actors of all time,' dies at 80


David Warner, the English character actor best known for his roles as villains in films like Tron, has died. He was 80.
Warner's death was confirmed Monday by his family in a statement to BBC. They said the cause was a cancer-related illness.
"Over the past 18 months he approached his diagnosis with a characteristic grace and dignity," Warner's family said. "He will be missed hugely by us, his family and friends, and remembered as a kind-hearted, generous and compassionate man, partner and father, whose legacy of extraordinary work has touched the lives of so many over the years."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Warner had dozens of film and TV credits under his belt, but some of his most notable films were The Omen, in which he played photographer Keith Jennings; Titanic, in which he played the valet and bodyguard of Billy Zane's character; and Tron, in which he played the villain of Ed Dillinger. Other notable credits included Time After Time, Straw Dogs, and Time Bandits.
Warner's most recent movie role was 2018's Mary Poppins Returns, in which he played a retired admiral. Outside of film and television, he performed many times on stage, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Actor and writer Mark Gatiss honored Warner on Twitter, reflecting that "to work extensively with him and to call him my friend was a gift beyond words," while actress Barbara Crampton, who worked with him on the film Pulse Pounders, also paid tribute.
"He was so purely an actor's actor, so real, so focused and a delightful person," Crampton said. "RIP to one of the best character actors of all time."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Cameron House Resort & Spa: a luxurious lakeside haven
The Week Recommends This stunning five-star resort on the shores of Loch Lomond is perfect for a special Scottish getaway
-
Albania’s AI government minister: a portent of things to come?
In The Spotlight A bot called Diella has been tasked with tackling the country's notorious corruption problem
-
Hyatt Regency Lisbon: a tranquil oasis in the historic district of Belém
The Week Recommends With its sprawling spa and prime location overlooking the River Tagus, this luxury hotel is a great place to escape the bustle of the city
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play