Silke Jasso
Acclaimed actor Tim Pigott-Smith has passed away at the age of 70. Known to many as Sir Philip Tapsell from “Downton Abbey,” he had graced TV screens across the world since the 1980s when he was sprung into fame for his performance in “The Jewel in the Crown.”
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Pigott-Smith, who lived in London, had been staying in Northampton to rehearse for a British touring revival of “Death of a Salesman,” in which he was to play Willy Loman. The project was set to begin Monday. He had also recently completed “Victoria and Abdul,” scheduled to be released this fall, and a TV version of “King Charles III.” He had just been awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to drama earlier this year.
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“He was a funny mix because he was really bright, very educated; he almost felt like an English private-school master,” British director Rupert Goold, who had known Pigott-Smith since childhood, said. “He also had a silly, playful, mischievous side. He enjoyed joining in dancing, or crazy warm-ups.”
Before making his acting debut, Pigott-Smith studied at the University of Bristol and then served as an assistant stage manager, taking up small acting roles occasionally. Prior to his TV peak in “The Jewel of the Crown,” he performed onstage in “Hamlet” and “Sherlock Holmes.” Eventually, he and his wife retired to a home in London, where he recommitted himself to live theater.
Piggot-Smith passed away Friday in Northampton, according to his agent. The cause of death is not yet known.
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