Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Member younome's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    164
    Post Thanks
    Chats
    0
    Rep Power
    13

    Michael Winner dies aged 77

    Film director and restaurant critic Michael Winner has died aged 77, according to his wife Geraldine.

    He had been ill for some months and died today at his home in Kensington, London, where he was being nursed by his wife. Last summer, Winner revealed that liver specialists had given him 18 months to live.

    Paying tribute to her husband of two years, Mrs Winner, said in a statement: "Michael was a wonderful man, brilliant, funny and generous.

    "A light has gone out in my life."

    Winner has more than 30 films on his CV, including the ?Death Wish? series.
    He was born in Hampstead, London in 1935 and started out as a journalist before joining Motion Limited as an editor in the 1950s.

    His early British films ranged from dramas, such as ?The Games? and comedies like ?The System?, with regular star Oliver Reed. It was World War 2 adventure ?Hannibal Brooks?, which also starred Reed as soldier attempting to transport an elephant through war-torn Europe, that brought him to the attention of Hollywood.

    Winner's big hit in Hollywood was of course ?Death Wish?, with Charles Bronson starring as a vigilante who goes on the rampage after muggers kill his wife and sexually assault his daughter. The film was criticised for its violence, but it was a success, and Winner would eventually direct two sequels.

    He directed many of the biggest stars of the 70s and 80s, such as Sophia Loren (in 'Firepower'), Marlon Brando ('Nightcomers') and Michael Caine and Roger Moore in 'Bullseye!'.
    However in the 1990s his directing career took a back step to his newspaper columns, most famously his scathing restaurant reviews in 'Winner's Dinners' for The Sunday Times.

    He also became famous to a whole new audience thanks to his hugely popular adverts for Esure, featuring the immortal catchphrase: 'Calm down dear, it's a commercial".

    In recent years Winner had several major health scares. In 2007, he contracted the bacterial infection Vibrio vulnificus from an oyster meal in Barbados. He was on the brink of death a number of times, almost had to have leg amputated and underwent 19 operations. He did recover, but was then infected with the superbug MRSA.

    In September 2011, Winner was admitted to hospital with food poisoning after eating steak tartare - which is made from raw beef - for four days in a row even though he was told by doctors he should not consume it because of his weakened immune system.

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    9
    Post Thanks
    Chats
    0
    Rep Power
    0

    Re: Michael Winner dies aged 77

    R.I.P my dear

Similar Threads

  1. Alvin Stardust dies aged 72
    By fergalsworld in forum Main Site News
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 24-10-2014, 02:53 AM
  2. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-07-2011, 12:11 AM
  3. Michael Gough, Batman's Alfred, dies aged 94
    By tinkertiler in forum Main Site News
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 18-03-2011, 06:12 AM
  4. Tony Curtis dies aged 85
    By notanotherone in forum Main Site News
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 30-09-2010, 11:04 PM
  5. Hollywood legend dies aged 84
    By notanotherone in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 30-04-2008, 10:57 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •