Joss Ackland who is well known for his performance in Lethal Weapon 2 and The Hunt For Red October has passed away at the age of 95. Anyone who has seen the action-comedy movie Lethal Weapon 2 will remember him saying “diplomatic immunity” before getting shot.
Ackland had been in the business since 1945 and has been in stage plays, TV shows, and over 130 movies over his almost eight-decade-long career. He left his mark on the industry and will be remembered for a very long time.
Some of The Works of Joss Ackland Over His Long Career
According to his representative, Paul Pearson, Ackland passed away due to natural causes and died peacefully with his family on Sunday morning. He was lucid even in old age and continued to retain his “mischievous side” according to Pearson.
There are plenty of movies he’s been a part of that are recognizable, working alongside actors like Sear Connery, Tim Curry, and more. He also had movies he was involved with that he wasn’t exactly proud of. He openly expressed regret for being a part of Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, for example. Other than that, he was very embarrassed by his appearance in the Pet Shop Boys music video titled Always On My Mind.
I do an awful lot of crap, but if it’s not immoral, I don’t mind. I’m a workaholic.
Interview with Radio Times
In terms of TV shows, he was best known for his work in Shadowlands, Midsomer Murders, and the Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy show from 1979 which also had Alec Guinness and Anthony Bate in the cast. Although he didn’t have any main roles in the aforementioned shows, he had a memorable presence regardless.
Ackland was married for 51 years, but his wife Rosemary passed away back in 2002. He has left seven children, 34 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren. And will be remembered fondly for his work.
