BAFTA-winning British actor and director David Leland has died aged 82.
The star, whose career spanned five decades and who also took up writing, passed away on Christmas Eve surrounded by his family.
Leland wrote films including Personal Services and Wish You Were Here, and famously directed Band of Brothers.
He trained as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as a young man, before co-forming the Drama Centre London.
He then moved to the Crucible Theatre for stage management.
BAFTA-winning British actor and director David Leland has died aged 82
Leland famously directed Band of Brothers (Pictured: Leland on set in Italy in 2007)
David worked with Monty Python stars Michael Palin and Terry Jones and directed Victoria Wood’s first play, Talent.
Tributes to the star were led by Pierce Brosnan who said: ‘David Leland holds a mighty place in my heart.
‘I was just out of Drama Centre where David was also an alumni. It was the thrill of my young lifetime to be cast as McCabe, working with David and Tennessee.
‘David will forever be an essential part of my story and of all who knew and loved him.’
Brosnan was given his first stage opportunity by Leland in Tennessee Williams’ play The Red Devil Battery Sign.
David also directed Liam Neeson in the movie The Big Man, and directed Land Girls with Rachel Weisz and Anna Friel.
He was a friend of George Harrison, and worked as a director on the Beatles’ film Checking Out and Concert For George, which was released after the guitarist’s death.
Leland’s director career is perhaps best remembered for the blockbuster Band of Brothers
Leland also directed the Land Girls, starring Anna Friel and Rachel Weisz
Pierce Brosnan led the tributes to David Leland after his death on Christmas Eve at the age of 82
Tim Roth, who starred in Leland’s film Made in Britain, said: ‘David was there at the very beginning of this crazy adventure.
‘He changed my life, and I love him for it. I’ll keep him with me always.’
Liam Neeson said: ‘David was a dream to work with. He was a real collaborator; he genuinely loved and admired actors.
‘We formed a close bond. I loved his mischievous sense of humour. You are always in my heart old friend. See you down the road.’
Terry Gilliam added: ‘The loss of David is very sad. As a friend, and as a writer/director, he was always solidly grounded… invariably sensitive and ruthlessly honest.
‘His 1987 film, Wish You Were Here, is still one of my all-time favourite British films.’
The second titled Wish You Were Here marked Leland’s directorial debut and won a Bafta for best original screenplay in 1988 as well as the Fipresci prize at the Cannes film festival.
A career in screenwriting and directing in both film and TV ensued, with credits including Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa starring Sir Michael Caine and Bob Hoskins – which won an Academy Award nomination – and Made In Britain starring Tim Roth.
Leland later returned to the stage to direct musical A Tribute To The Blues Brothers – which played in the West End and toured for 10 years across the UK and Australia.
Meanwhile, in TV Leland won an Emmy award for outstanding directing for an episode of HBO’s Band Of Brothers and was both a director and writer for The Borgias.
Other awards include a Grammy for best long form music video, having directed Concert For George – a memorial music event at the Royal Albert Hall in honour of the late Beatles star George Harrison.
Leland was a close friend of Harrison and worked as a director on the guitarist’s 1988 film Checking Out.
He is survived by his wife Sabrina, his four daughters and six grandchildren ‘all of whom he loved almost as much as Arsenal Football Club.’
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.