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Ben Cross, the stage and film actor best known for his roles in Wagons of fire en Star Trek, died at the age of 72.
The actor’s family confirmed Deadline that Cross died Tuesday morning in Vienna, Austria.
His daughter Lauren shared the following announcement on Facebook: ‘I am absolutely passionate about sharing with you that my dear father passed away a few hours ago.
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“He had been ill for a while, but there was a rapid decline last week. The press will announce his death soon, I just wish you all – his most loyal and loving fans – heard it from us first.
“Thank you for all your support over the years. He really enjoyed your interaction. ”
Ben Cross at an event on February 25, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (David Livingston / Getty Images)
Born in 1947 in London, Cross – whose birth name was Harry Bernard Cross – worked a series of jobs before being accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts at the age of 22.
After a few TV credits, his first feature film came in the 1977 war film A bridge too far.
Cross continued acting on television and in 1981 played the lead role of Harold Abrahams in director Hugh Hudson’s Wagons of fire. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1982.
Over the next two decades, the actor continued to appear on both large and small screens The Citadel, The Twilight Zone, en Dark shadows, among other programs.
In 2009, Cross Sarek, Spock’s father, portrayed JJ Abrams Star Trek film.
Cross recently starred in The CW’s science fiction series Pandora. He is also part of the Netflix / Studiocanal adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ novel De Last letter from your lover.
The project, currently in post-production, also stars Felicity Jones and Shailene Woodley.
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