“Over the past 18 months he approached his diagnosis with a characteristic grace and dignity,” Warner’s family said in a statement. “He will be missed hugely by us, his family and friends, and remembered as a kind-hearted, generous, and compassionate man, partner, and father, whose legacy of extraordinary work has touched the lives of so many over the years. We are heartbroken.”
In the wake of the actor’s passing, fans and filmmakers alike took to social media to share their respect for his work and discuss their favorites of his many roles. Throughout a career spanning six decades, Warner made prominent appearances in films like Titanic, The Omen, Tron, Time Bandits and many more, as well as on acclaimed TV series like Twin Peaks and Penny Dreadful.
Film writer Farran Nehme singled out Warner’s collaborations with the maverick director Sam Peckinpah on films like Straw Dogs.
“And not to forget Warner as the best and most frightening Jack the Ripper of them all, in Time After Time,” Nehme added, noting the actor’s portrayal of the infamous London-based serial killer.
Journalist Emma Burnell praised Warner’s “chilling” appearance on David Lynch’s beloved surrealist crime drama, Twin Peaks. Warner appeared in 12 episodes of the show’s second season, portraying the scheming South African businessman Thomas Eckhardt.
Film journalist and editor Eric Goldman offered praise for Warner’s tendency to embrace sillier roles and genre films throughout his career. Alongside his portrayal of the villain Sark in Disney’s groundbreaking VFX-driven cult classic Tron, Warner also had prominent roles in films like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze and multiple Star Trek projects, including Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Warner was also mourned by numerous filmmakers and actors who were influenced by his work, including Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and lauded British director Edgar Wright.
Born in Manchester, England, in July 1941, Warner went on to graduate from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in 1961, beginning his lengthy career the following year. According to his family’s official statement to the BBC, he is survived by “his beloved partner Lisa Bowerman, his much-loved son Luke and daughter-in-law Sarah, his good friend Jane Spencer Prior, his first wife Harriet Evans and his many gold dust friends.”
