“He was such good company, wise, experienced, empathetic, funny. It was always a pleasure to share a stage with him.”

The BAFTA-winning actor Lee Montague has sadly died at the age of 97, as tributes flood in from famous faces.

In his career spanning over six decades, he starred in films including Brass Target, the Moulin Rouge movie in 1952, How I Won the War and Brother Sun, Sister Moon. His TV credits included Bergerac, Casualty, The Sweeney and as the first storyteller on BBC children’s show Jackanory in the 1960s.

His final on-screen role was in the 2017 film Gatwick Gangsters. He also appeared in a handful of stage productions during his career.

The news was announced in an obituary published by Keats Community Library in Hampstead Heath, London, where he held the role of President for Life.

Lee played a significant part in saving the library after the local authority closed it in 2011 before publicly sharing that they had done so. He campaigned alongside locals to get it re-opened, the Mirror reports.

The library’s announcement read: “We are deeply sad to announce the death of our beloved President for Life, Lee Montague at the age of 97.

“Lee was a highly respected actor. He trained at the Old Vic School and worked in the early part of his career in the Royal Exchange Manchester, the Old Vic, Bristol Old Vic and Oxford Playhouse.

“Moving into film he worked with great directors (such as Zeffirelli) appearing in some 30 films including Moulin Rouge in 1952, Bill Budd, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and Jesus of Nazareth with Robert Powell.”

It added: “In the 70s in television he had long runs The Sweeney, Bergerac and Seconds Out with Robert Lindsay.

“He was the first storyteller on the BBC children’s programme Jackanory in 1965, narrating 15 episodes, for which he won a BAFTA. He was a huge Arsenal fan and a formidable tennis player!

“But to us, he was the saviour of the library. He saved it once before from closure by Camden, but in 2011 they closed it before announcing it, so it was Lee who formed a committee of neighbours to set up the Keats Community Library charity it is today.

“He continued to be vital to our success as he wrote many literary and biographical evenings which he performed with his fellow actors, Michael Palin, Robert Powell, Simon Callow and Janet Suzman. These were played to a full house, as is befitting!” The touching announcement and tribute to Lee ended with: “He will be greatly missed.”

Several tributes have flooded in from fellow industry figures, including from Michael Palin who said: “Very sad to hear that I shall not see Lee again. He was such good company, wise, experienced, empathetic, funny. It was always a pleasure to share a stage with him.”

Actor Robert Lindsay, who appeared alongside Lee in TV series Seconds Out in 1981, added to local news site Ham & High: “I’m devastated as I regarded Lee as my theatrical Dad and I have kept in touch with him over many years.” Playwright Sir David Hare said he regarded the star as “a consummate gentleman”.