Veteran Brit actor dies at home

Veteran British actor Sir John Mills, one of Britain's most beloved and best-known screen stars who appeared in more than 100 films, has died aged 97 after a brief illness.

"Sir John Mills died peacefully at home after a short illness," a member of his staff said on Saturday.

The stage, screen and television actor, whose career spanned more than 70 years, won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1971 for Ryan's Daughter.

Mills, whose daughter Hayley has also had a successful acting career, began in stage musical revues, being discovered by actor and composer Noel Coward. He starred as Pip in the 1946 classic Great Expectations, and was also renowned for appearing in a string of well-known war titles, including Ice Cold in Alex, Dunkirk and Tunes of Glory.