Actor Peter Wyngarde played fashionable detective Jason King in the 1970s, and also had roles in «Flash Gordon» and on «Doctor Who»
Peter Wyngarde, the cult British actor who served as Mike Myers’ inspiration for Austin Powers, died Thursday, according to his agent. He was 90.
Wyngarde is best known for playing the titular role in the 1971 British series “Jason King.” In the short-lived spinoff of the espionage series “Department S,” Jason King was a suave, garishly dressed adventure novelist who would often travel to exotic locales for research on his stories, only to get mired in mysteries with dangerous villains and exotic women.
Comedian Myers has named King as a major inspiration for Austin Powers, particularly for his dandy, leisure suit outfits.
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Wyngarde and King also inspired Marvel Comics creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to create the “X-Men” villain Mastermind, a mutant who had the ability to create complex illusions and hallucinations in the minds of the X-Men. Mastermind, whose secret identity was Jason Wyngarde, played a major role in the famous “Dark Phoenix Saga,” which is being adapted into a movie that will be released this November.
Sci-fi fans may also know Wyngarde for his work in the early ’80s as some notable villains. In the 1980 film adaptation of “Flash Gordon,” Wyngarde played Klytus, the gold-masked leader of Ming The Merciless’ secret police. In 1984, he got a role on the “Doctor Who” serial “Planet of Fire” as Timanov, the fanatical leader of a tribe of natives who worship a fire god that get swept up into a confrontation between the Doctor and his arch nemesis, The Master. Wyngarde also had an appearance on an episode of the cult British series “The Prisoner” as one of the many mysterious men who play the authority figure Number Two, and played the King of Siam in a London revival of “The King and I.”
“It’s terrible that Peter Wyngarde is dead,” tweeted “Doctor Who” writer Paul Cornell. “Such an extraordinary, detail-disputed, life. He was oddly magnificent.”
Others honoring Wyngarde on Thursday include the British Film Institute and “Doctor Who” and “Sherlock” writer Mark Gatiss
It’s terrible and impossible that #peterwyngarde is dead. Such an extraordinary, detail-disputed, life. He was oddly magnificent. https://t.co/dnx2tFUQ7E pic.twitter.com/AbluRU3LK8
– Paul_Cornell (@Paul_Cornell) January 18,2018
We’re sad to hear that actor Peter Wyngarde, best known for his role as TV sleuth Jason King, has passed away https://t.co/IaKJE4em8C pic.twitter.com/fMYsc6DHL9
– BFI (@BFI) January 18,2018
From wartime internment alongside JG Ballard to Klytus. With No.2, Baron Gruner, Professor Norman Taylor, Peter Quint and Gloucester bus station in between. What a life. What a legend. Jason King is dead. Long live Jason King! #peterwyngarde pic.twitter.com/GX6AENMRZY
– Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) January 18,2018
Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2017 (Photos)
A look back at some of the notable people we’ve lost this year. Getty Images
Tony Rosato
The actor, who appeared on «SCTV» and later joined the cast of «Saturday Night Live» in 1981, died of a heart attack on Jan. 10 at the age of 62.
William Peter Blatty
The author of the famed horror novel «The Exorcist,» died from cancer on Jan. 12 at the age of 89.
Dick Gautier
The actor who starred in the original Broadway production of «Bye Bye Birdie» and played the role of Hymie the Robot on «Get Smart» died on Jan. 13 at the age of 85. Wikipedia
Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka
The WWE legend died from stomach cancer on Jan. 15 at the age of 73. He was inducted into the WWF (now WWE) Hall of Fame in 1996 and was also the first WrestleMania opponent of The Undertaker. Getty Images
Miguel Ferrer
The «NCIS: Los Angeles» star who played the role of Owen Granger died Jan. 19 from cancer at the age of 61.
Lee O’Denat aka «Q»
The founder and CEO of music and culture website WorldStarHipHop, Lee O’Denat, died on Jan. 23 in his sleep at the age of 43, according to TMZ. Getty Images
Mary Tyler Moore
The legendary six-time Emmy-winning star of the «Mary Tyler Moore Show» and «The Dick Van Dyke Show» died on Jan. 25 at the age of 80.
Mike Connors
The American actor, best known for playing a private eye on the long-running CBS action series «Mannix» (1967-75), died on January 26 at age 91. Getty Images
Barbara Hale
The actress best known for her role as legal secretary Della Street on the long-running legal drama “Perry Mason,” died Jan. 27 at the age of 94.
According to the Washington Post, Hale died of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
John Hurt
The Oscar-nominated British actor whose career spanned six decades and starred in “The Elephant Man,” «Alien» and three «Harry Potter» movies died at the age of 77 on January 27. Hurt had been battling pancreatic cancer since 2015. Getty Images
Richard Hatch
Best known for playing Captain Apollo on the 1970s sci-fi television series “Battlestar Galactica,” Hatch died at the age of 71 following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer on Feb. 7.
Brenda Buttner
The senior business correspondent and host of “Bulls and Bears” for the Fox News Channel, Brenda Buttner died on Feb. 20 after a battle with cancer at the age of 55.
Neil Fingleton
The 7-foot, 7-inch Fingleton died Feb. 25 at age 36. He was best known for his role as the giant called Mag the Mighty on «Game of Thrones» and was Europe’s tallest man.
Bill Paxton
The star of «Aliens» and «Titanic» died Feb. 26 due to complications from surgery. He was 61 years old.
Robert Osborne
Film historian and longtime host on Turner Classic Movies, Robert Osborne died Mar. 6 at the age of 84.
Joni Sledge
A member of the 1970’s musical group, Sister Sledge, known for their single “We Are Family,» Sledge died Mar. 10 at 60-years-old. Getty Images
Auntie Fee
Felicia O’Dell, better known as Chef Sista Girl or Auntie Fee, was a viral YouTube sensation known for her «good ass chicken» died Mar. 17 after suffering a heart attack. She was 59-years-old. YouTube
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry, singer and songwriter of rock and roll classics such as “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Johnny B. Goode” died Mar. 18 at the age of 90.
Bernie Wrightson
The famed comic book artist known for co-creating the DC comic book monster Swamp Thing died Mar. 19 after a long battle with brain cancer at 68-years-old.
Jimmy Breslin
The Pulitzer-winning reporter and columnist whose life was as outsized as the New York City characters he depicted and exposed in print, died Mar. 19 at the age of 88.
He was known for reporting on letters he received from “Son of Sam” serial killer, David Berkowitz in 1977 and exposed one of the city’s worst corruption scandals in the ’80s.
Darlene Cates
The «What’s Eating Gilbert Grape» mom died Mar. 26 peacefully in her sleep at the age of 69.
Don Rickles
Legendary stand-up comedian and actor best known as an insult comic, Rickles died Apr. 7 at the age of 90.
Charlie Murphy
The actor and comedian — the older brother of Eddie Murphy who was best known for his incredibly memorable stints on «Chappelle’s Show» — died April 12 from complications from leukemia.
Erin Moran
Best known for playing Ron Howard’s kid sister in the classic 1970s sitcom “Happy Days,” Moran died Apr. 22 at the age of 56.
Jonathan Demme
The Oscar winning director of «The Silence of the Lambs» died Apr. 26 from esophageal cancer at the age of 73.
Michael Mantenuto
One of the stars of Disney’s 2004 film “Miracle,” Mantenuto died at the age of 35 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Apr. 24.
Powers Boothe
The Emmy-winning character actor, who had memorable stints on «Deadwood,» «24,» and «Nashville,» died in his sleep of natural causes at age 68 on May 14.
Brad Grey
The longtime producer, who also served as chairman and CEO of Paramount for 12 years, died May 14 of cancer at age 59.
Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell, the grunge frontman of rock groups Soundgarden and Audioslave, died of a suicide by hanging on May 18,2017. He was 52. Getty Images
Roger Ailes
The former Fox News Chief, who resigned from the company in July after former anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit that resulted in multiple women coming forward with similar claims died on May 18 at the age of 77.
According to a family friend who spoke with CNN, Ailes fell at his home in Palm Beach, Florida last week, suffered complications, and slipped into a coma.
Gregg Allman The organist and singer for The Allman Brothers, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Gregg Allman died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Savannah, Georgia, at the age of 69, according to his official website. Allman helped create the Southern Rock genre, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Lisa Spoonauer
Best known as Caitlin Bree in the 1994 film “Clerks,” Spoonauer died at the age of 44. The film’s director, Kevin Smith, reported the news on June 6.
Adam West
The titular star of TV’s “Batman” from 1966-1968 died after battling leukemia at the age of 88 on June 9.
Martin Landau
The star of “Ed Wood,” “North by Northwest” and the ’60s TV series “Mission: Impossible” died July 15 at the age of 89 after experiencing unexpected complications during a short hospitalization.
George Romero
The famed horror director who invented the modern zombie movie with 1968’s “Night of the Living Dead,” died July 16 at age 77 after a short battle with lung cancer.
Chester Bennington
Chester Bennington, the frontman of the 2000s rap-rock group Linkin Park, died of suicide by hanging on July 20. He was 41. Getty Images
Sam Shepard
The author, playwright and actor, died on July 27 from complications of ALS. He was 73 years old.
Robert Hardy
The actor, best known for playing Cornelius Fudge in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, died Aug. 3 at the age of 91.
Barbara Cook
A Broadway star and a beloved cabaret and concert performer, died at the age of 89 from respiratory failure on Aug. 8.
Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell, the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and variety TV show host, died on August 8. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease late in 2010. Campbell was 81. Getty Images
Joseph Bologna
The actor, director, playwright, and Oscar-nominated screenwriter died Aug. 13 at the age of 82 after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.
Dick Gregory
The famed comedian and civil rights activist died Aug. 19 at the age of 84 from heart failure.
Jerry Lewis
One of Hollywood’s most famous comedians known for being one-half of a legendary comedy duo with Dean Martin, died Aug. 20 at the age of 91.
Thomas Meehan
The Tony Award-winning writer of “Annie,” “Hairspray” and “The Producers,” has died at the age of 88 on Aug. 22
Jay Thomas
Known for roles on “Cheers” and “Murphy Brown,” Thomas died Aug. 24 at age 69 after a long battle with cancer.
Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper, the director of horror classics such as “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Poltergeist,” died on Aug. 26 at age 74.
Bernard Pomerance
Bernard Pomerance, the American playwright and poet who wrote the Tony-winning 1977 play “The Elephant Man,” died Aug. 26 at the age of 74 from complications from cancer at his home in Galisteo, New Mexico.
Coach Rollie Massimino
Longtime Villanova basketball coach Rollie Massimino died Aug. 30 at the age of 82 after battling lung cancer.
Richard Anderson
Richard Anderson, an actor known for “The Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Bionic Woman,” died Aug. 31 at age 91.
Shelley Berman
Stand-up comedian and actor Shelley Berman, known for playing Larry David’s dad on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” died Sep. 1 due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 92.
Walter Becker
Walter Becker, co-founding guitarist of the jazz rock band Steely Dan, died Sep.
