Tributes have been paid to British actor Freddie Jones, best known for playing Sandy Thomas in Emmerdale, who has died at the age of 91. His agent Lesley Duff confirmed he passed away on 9 July after a short illness, describing him as 'a much loved and admired actor, known for his triumphs in theatre, film and TV.'
Jones's film career included roles in David Lynch's Dune, Wild at Heart, and The Elephant Man, where he played the cruel circus ringmaster Bytes. He also appeared in horror classics Frankenstein Must be Destroyed and The Satanic Rites of Dracula, as well as the 1983 sci-fi film Krull.
In recent years, Jones was a familiar face to soap fans as Woolpack regular Sandy Thomas in Emmerdale, a role he played for 13 years. He made his final appearance last year, telling the Radio Times he could no longer justify staying despite the show's offer of another 12 months. Co-star Katherine Dow Blyton said she felt 'so lucky' to have worked with him.
Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle, remembered Jones as 'an amazing man' who 'would light up the set with his wit and charm'. Charlotte Bellamy, who played his on-screen daughter-in-law Laurel, said she was 'in awe of his professionalism, humour and his zest for life'. The programme paid tribute to 'one of the show's most brilliant actors and favourite human beings'.
Jones began his career as a laboratory assistant before turning to amateur theatre and eventually professional acting. He made his film debut in Peter Brook's Marat/Sade in 1967. He was married to actress Jennie Heslewood for more than 50 years, and three of their sons—Toby, Caspar, and Rupert—followed him into the entertainment industry.
