British filmmaker John Irvin, who is best known for directing the acclaimed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, has died at the age of 86.<\/p>\n
The three-time Bafta nominee died \u2018peacefully at home\u2019 on August 11, according to reports.<\/p>\n
Born in London, Irvin enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades, working across documentaries, television and Hollywood films.<\/p>\n
After studying at the London Film School, he became involved with the Free Cinema Movement before moving into documentary filmmaking.<\/p>\n
His breakthrough came with Inheritance, a 1963 documentary short about the Algerian War of Independence, before he went on to earn a Bafta nomination for best short film in 1967 for Mafia No!<\/p>\n
In 1969, he then travelled to Vietnam to film footage of the war for US newsreel company Movietone.<\/p>\n
In the 1970s, he moved into television, directing a number of productions including an adaptation of Charles Dickens\u2019 Hard Times in 1977.<\/p>\n
However, it was his work on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy that cemented his name.<\/p>\n
The BBC\u2019s adaptation of John le Carr\u00e9\u2019s Cold War spy thriller starred Sir Alec Guinness as George Smiley and earned nominations at both the BAFTAs and Emmys.<\/p>\n
By Deputy Head of Audience Optimisation Andrew Gaudion<\/p>\n
I had the pleasure of intereviewing Mr Irvin for the publication FIlmhounds to mark the 4K re-release of his Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie Raw Deal back in 2022.<\/p>\n
With the film having been made nearly 40 years ago, and not really knowing what he thought about the movie, I was a little nervous about how the chat might go.<\/p>\n
But those anxieties were quickly washed away when met with the warm spirit of the late Mr Irvin, who was 82 at the time.<\/p>\n
He spoke with fondness about working with a big star like Schwarzenegger, and had no pretentions about what sort of movie he had made in Raw Deal. He colourfully described it as such: \u2018If they want a hamburger, I\u2019ll give them a deluxe hamburger.\u2019<\/p>\n
He was so clearly proud of his career and the number of different avenues, from documentary making to BBC dramas and Hollywood action movies; he did it all. I was also very glad I got the chance to praise him for another of his movies, the underrated Hamburger Hill, which he seemed touched by, describing the film as one he is very proud of.<\/p>\n