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Actor Anthony Bate dies aged 84

12:23am Wednesday 20th June 2012 in Leisure © Press Association 2013

Anthony Bate, pictured in 1974, who has died aged 84 Anthony Bate, pictured in 1974, who has died aged 84

Actor Anthony Bate, best known for his role in the BBC's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and a familiar face of TV drama during his five decade career, has died at the age of 84.

Bate - who played Oliver Lacon in the John Le Carre cold war thriller, and in the dramatisation of Smiley's People - died on Tuesday morning.

His agent Roger Charteris said the actor had been taken ill on Thursday and would be "greatly missed".

The actor - known to his friends as Tony - had roles in countless TV programmes including 60s TV hits such as The Avengers, The Saint and The Champions.

Bate's roles also included a memorable performance as Kim Philby in the BBC's 1977 drama about the Cambridge spy ring, Philby, Burgess and Maclean - alongside names such as Derek Jacobi and Arthur Lowe.

Other programmes in which he appeared included A Touch Of Frost, Prime Suspect, Midsomer Murders and Poirot, and he often specialised in "bad guy" roles.

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