Casualty's MacCorkindale loses his battle with cancer

Actor Simon MacCorkindale, who starred in TV's Casualty, has died after a four-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.

The 58-year-old actor, who had a wide-ranging career including six years in the hit BBC medical drama as Dr Harry Harper, died in the arms of his wife, the actress Susan George, on Thursday night in the London Clinic, Harley Street.

Ms George said: "No-one could have fought this disease any harder than he did since being diagnosed four years ago.He fought it with such strength, courage and belief. Last night, he lost this battle, and he died peacefully in my arms."

Born in Cambridge, MacCorkindale appeared in TV miniseries such as I, Claudius (1976) and Jesus of Nazareth (1977). His first major film role was in Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile (1978). He moved to the US in 1980 and appeared in the soap opera Falcon Crest.