Actor and director Michael Burrell, who served as creative director of Wisbech’s Angles Theatre for six years, died on Saturday.

Cambs Times: Michael Burrell as Rudolf Hess in Hess.Michael Burrell as Rudolf Hess in Hess. (Image: Archant)

Mr Burrell, who was 77, enjoyed an illustrious career in theatre and film in both the UK and the States - he was headmaster in Pink Floyd’s video from the album The Wall, the angel of death in The Arch of Triumph starring Anthony Hopkins, a clerk in A Tale of Two Cities starring Kenneth More and Carter in Les Miserables starring Anthony Hopkins.

Cambs Times: Michael Burrell as the man who lost America.Michael Burrell as the man who lost America. (Image: Archant)

He came to Wisbech in 1995 to be creative director of the theatre and, during his six years in charge, did much to raise its profile, acting and directing in several productions.

He invited famous colleagues and friends from London’s theatre-land to come up to Wisbech and entertain.

His West End roles were Rudolf Hess in Hess, the inspector in The Government Inspector, Mr Paravicini in The Mousetrap and Arthur Kipps in The Woman in Black.

His television credits included Eastenders, The Bill, Secret Army, Angels, Doctor at Large, Doctor in the House, Please Sir, Potter and Crime watch.

Mr Burrell, who lived in Huntingdon, has also made numerous documentaries, did several voice-overs, wrote several plays and books, directed plays up and down the country and had been the honorary principal for the Angles Theatre’s school for the performing, technical and creative arts – Ratzcool, since 2010.

An Angles Theatre spokesman said: “The Angles Theatre trustees and supporters will very sadly miss the man who despite a frenzied and sometimes chaotic lifestyle was always prepared to sit down and offer advice from his many years of experience to an individual or to a group of people looking for direction.

“His most memorable recent appearance was a charity event for the theatre, with Sir Derek Jacobi. We shall all now treasure our memories of that evening forever.”

Mr Burrell’s funeral takes place next Wednesday (July 9) at All Saints Church, Huntingdon, followed by committal at Cambridge Crematorium.