'Heartbroken' Carry On legend leads tributes following star's death

Carry On icon Jim Dale is "heartbroken" following the death of his "dearest friend" director Frank Dunlop. The acclaimed theatre legend died on Sunday, January 4 at the age of 98. No cause of death was released as Jim and other stars paid a touching tribute to him.

Taking to Facebook, Jim, who starred in 11 of the Carry On comedies, penned: "Frank Dunlop, my ninety-seven-year-old dearest friend, passed away on Sunday evening. In 1965, Frank saw me performing stand-up comedy on a British Music Hall stage and literally dragged me into his world of Shakespeare’s comedies. He became the guru to brilliant young actors and me at the Young Vic Theatre and Britain’s National Theatre. Over the following years, he polished my performances in eight award-winning productions. In 1970, I collaborated with him on our most successful stage production, ‘Scapino,’ based on a farce by Moliere. In 1974, it played on Broadway to capacity houses for almost a year," he shared.

Continuing his recollection he wrote: "Frank's publication of the play became an instructional format for any young wannabe director, resulting in thousands of productions in schools throughout the world.

"I am heartbroken, as must be every actor who experienced the JOY of working with the best of all possible directors," he concluded.

Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes confessed she had been alerted to Frank's death by Jim's post as she shared her own tribute to her friend.

"I saw on Jim Dale’s page that FRANK DUNLOP has died. My grief & gratitude to Frank mirrors Jim’s. When Sonia Fraser & I were trying to get support for DICKENS’ WOMEN, we went to Frank. He was Director of the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) from 1984-1991," she wrote.

"On the strength of an hour’s chat with us in 1984 (??), Frank offered us a slot in the official Festival for our (as yet) unwritten play, which became 'WOOMAN, LOVELY WOOMAN, WHAT A SEX YOU ARE'.

"It changed both our lives. He took a chance on two middle-aged women with no writing experience & trusted us to deliver. It took 9 months! Our triumph was his. I honour his generous memory - a true creative artist, a magnificent human being," she recalled.

Leeds-born Frank enjoyed an illustrious career beginning when he founded and directed his own young theatre company, The Piccolo Theatre in Manchester in 1954.

Among his many accomplishments, he worked with both the National Theatre and The Young Vic, as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company, and directed on Broadway. He was appointed CBE in 1977 and received the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Literature, presented to him by the French government in 1987.