Eric Sykes | British comic actor, 89

Eric Sykes, 89, a widely acclaimed British comedy actor and writer, died Wednesday at his home after a brief illness, manager Norma Farnes said.

Mr. Sykes was one of the most popular British comic actors of his generation, appearing in shows in London's West End into his 80s. He began his career writing scripts for BBC shows, co-writing 24 episodes of the classic radio comedy The Goon Show with Spike Milligan.

He appeared in the Sykes and a sitcom about a brother and sister living together in west London, which ran in the 1960s and 1970s. He went on to write and act in theater shows and movies, including an appearance in The Others with Nicole Kidman and in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, in which he played a reclusive war veteran.

He also wrote scripts for Peter Sellers and other actors.

Former Monty Python member Michael Palin said Mr. Sykes was "one of the nicest, most decent men in the business and one of a kind."

"To me, he was a great inspiration, both as a writer and performer," Palin said. - AP