Actor Corin Redgrave dies aged 70

Corin Redgrave, a member of a celebrated acting dynasty, died yesterday at the age of 70.

The actor, who is known for his stage, TV and film work was taken ill in the early hours of Sunday.

A statement issued by Redgrave's wife, Kika Markham, and family said:

"He died very peacefully surrounded by his family. We will miss him so very much."

Corin Redgrave enjoyed a long career on stage and screen. He was also known for his political activism – campaigning against the Guantanamo Bay detentions and embracing Marxism.

Born in London on 16 July, 1939, Redgrave was the son of theatrical luminaries Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson.

The brother of actresses Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave, he was father to actress Jemma Redgrave and uncle to TV and film stars Joely and Natasha Richardson. His first marriage, to former model Deirdre Hamilton-Hill, who died of cancer, led to the births of Jemma and a son, Luke.

He later married actress Kika Markham and had two more sons, Harvey and Arden.

The young Redgrave embarked upon the "family business" while attending Cambridge University. A professional stage debut in 1963 in Chips With Everything was followed by his first major film, the Oscar-winning A Man For All Seasons.

The following year, Redgrave starred in The Deadly Affair and had other roles in Girl With A Pistol, The Magus and The Charge Of The Light Brigade.

Most memorably to younger fans, he played Hamish in the smash-hit movie Four Weddings And A Funeral in 1994.

Redgrave was a political activist all his life and most recently founded the Guantanamo Human Rights Commission with his sister, Vanessa.

Formerly a leading figure in the Marxist Party, Redgrave also co-founded the Peace and Progress Party, which fielded three candidates in the 2005 general election and attacked the "fascism" and "lies" of mainstream politics.