MORE tributes were paid to Cwm-born star of Beatles films, Victor Spinetti who died after a battle with prostate cancer.

The star of stage and screen who starred in the Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night Victor Spinetti was born above a chip ship in Cwm on September 2, 1929.

Said to be one of the most talented and popular comic and classical actors of his generation, appeared in more than 30 movies including the Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night, Help! and Magical Mystery Tour.

Mr Spinetti’s agent Barry Burnett said: “He was very cheerful to the end. I spoke to him on Friday and he was talking about his plans and everything.’’ After going to Monmouth School, he studied at the College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, of which he later became a fellow.

Dr Steven Connors, headmaster of Monmouth School who recently visited the actor in hospital, said: “He was so full of life it is difficult to believe that he is no longer with us.” His stage career saw him work with Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, and his appearance in the workshop’s production of Oh! What a Lovely War led him to being asked by the Beatles to feature in A Hard Day’s Night. He went on to star in two further Beatles films, and and also coauthored John Lennon’s In His Own Write, which he directed at the National Theatre.

The late George Harrison once said to him: “You have got to be in all our films. If you are not in them,mymum won’t come and see them because she fancies you.”

During his career Mr Spinetti, 82, also worked with other top stars including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Under Milk Wood and won a Tony award for his role as an obnoxious drill sergeant in the Broadway production of Oh! What a Lovely War.

His TV shows included Take My Wife, the sitcom An Actor’s Life For Me, and he was the voice of Texas Pete in the S4C cartoon SuperTed.

In 2005 he was made an honorary fellow of the University of Wales, Newport. The university’s acting vice-chancellor, Professor Stephen Hagen, said: “Victor was a much loved and hugely admired part of life in Wales and beyond. His ability to make people laugh was only matched by his genuinely lovely nature which endeared him to all he met.”

‘Such an amazing talent’

BBC presenter Nick Campbell, who knew Mr Spinetti, pictured, said he was an amazing talent.

Actor and director Samuel West tweeted that Spinetti worked with “Zeffirelli, Joan Littlewood & the Beatles; a great career, a lovely man”.

Danny Baker said on his Twitter feed that Victor Spinetti was “one of the great raconteurs.”