Tributes have been paid to actor Tony Haygarth, who has passed away at his home in Tunbridge Wells at the age of 72. Tony, who starred as Mick Naylor in Emmerdale, enjoyed a successful 45-year acting career, appearing in more than 30 films, including I, Claudius and Chicken Run. He also starred in TV shows such as The Bill and Where The Heart Is. The sad news was announced by wife Carole Winter on social media. The cause of death is not yet known, but it comes after Tony was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014.
Actor Tony Haygarth has passed away at the age of 72
An acclaimed character actor, Tony appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. His work in the theatre included The Tempest and Twelve Angry Men in 1996, both of which earned him an Olivier Award nomination. He was the author of several plays; his first play, The Lie, dealt with the death of Shakespeare's rival Christopher Marlowe. Tony also appeared in a large number of films and TV shows - many will remember him as Vic Snow in Where The Heart Is, which he starred in until 2002, and more recently for his role in Emmerdale. He voiced Mr Tweedy in the award-winning animated movie Chicken Run.
STORY: George Michael's cause of death revealed
Tony's wife Carole Winter announced the sad news of his passing on Twitter
Confirming the news of his death on Twitter, wife Carole, a theatre producer, wrote: "Tony Hargarth: loving father to Katie and Becky, my greatest supporter, actor of extraordinary talent RIP." Tony Robinson was among the first to pay tribute. He described the star as "a gentle man, and a fine and subtle actor". Comedian and actor Les Dennis wrote: "So very sad to hear that the wonderful Tony Hargarth has died."
STORY: Tara Palmer-Tomkinson spoke about her funeral two weeks before her death