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Home / Entertainment

Peter Vaughan, star of Game of Thrones and Porridge, dies aged 93

Daily Telegraph UK
7 Dec, 2016 08:00 AM3 mins to read

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Game Of Thrones actor Peter Vaughan has died.

Game Of Thrones actor Peter Vaughan has died.

Game Of Thrones actor Peter Vaughan has died at the age of 93, his agent said.

The star was best known for his role as Maester Aemon in the TV hit, while he also appeared in the sitcom Porridge.

A statement from Sally Long-Innes, his agent, said: "This is to confirm that very sadly Peter Vaughan passed away at approximately 10.30 this morning.

"He died peacefully with his family around him."

Peter Vaughan "died peacefully with his family around him." Photo / Getty Images
Peter Vaughan "died peacefully with his family around him." Photo / Getty Images
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Grouty in Porridge

Despite being in only three episodes of Porridge alongside Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, Vaughan made his mark as villain Harry "Grouty" Grout.

He was appearing in a play when he was asked to take on the role.

"I still get people saying 'Let you out, have they, Grouty?" the actor said more than 40 years later.

"I was in just three episodes and, of course, the feature film, so I have to thank the writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais for the fact I'm one of the characters people always remember when they talk about Porridge because Grouty is so prominent - even though I'm not there.

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"Everybody's frightened to death of him, so they talked about him a lot and so it was a huge character but I didn't have to be there," he previously told the Sunday Post.

Vaughan's other roles

Vaughan was also known for 1970s TV series Citizen Smith and later, Our Friends In The North, playing Felix Hutchinson, Christopher Eccleston's character's father.

He played "a hard nut with Alzheimer's" and said afterwards: "It was the first time that had been done."

He also appeared in 1967 spy thriller The Naked Runner, starring Frank Sinatra.

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"The great thing about Frank was that you had to stand up to him very quickly. If you did that, he respected you, otherwise he'd walk all over you," Vaughan said.

His watch ended

But recently it was starring in Game Of Thrones, which made him famous to millions around the world.

The actor was partially sighted and portrayed the blind character for five years.

Vaughan was born Peter Ohm on April 4 1923 in Shropshire. He was married to actress Billie Whitelaw for 12 years.

Vaughan later wed actress Lillias Walker, whom he met in his repertory days.

GoT fans react with sadness

Sad to see that Peter Vaughan has died at 93. A superb actor who could be menacing and funny and often both at the same time #RIP

— Phil Ford (@philfordesq) December 6, 2016
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