Film director and newspaper columnist Michael Winner has died, aged 77, his wife Geraldine has confirmed.
Born in Hampstead, London in 1935, he directed more than 30 films, including Death Wish and Scorpio.
He was also famous for his barbed restaurant reviews, written for The Sunday Times under the banner "Winner's Dinners".
Winner had been ill for some time. Last summer, he said liver specialists had given him 18 months to live.
Paying tribute to her husband, Mrs Winner said: "Michael was a wonderful man, brilliant, funny and generous.
"A light has gone out in my life."
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber said he would "deeply miss" his friend, writing on Twitter: "True originals come rarely in a lifetime."
Monty Python comedian John Cleese added: "I have just heard the very sad news about Michael. He was the dearest, kindest, funniest and most generous of friends.
"I shall miss him terribly."
RIP Michael Winner
RIP Michael Winner
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: RIP Michael Winner
A lot of great talent passed away in 2012. 

Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
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Re: RIP Michael Winner
As have all the years.dales wrote:A lot of great talent passed away in 2012.