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Patrick Macnee, star of The Avengers, has died aged 93. The veteran actor died peacefully at his home in Palm Springs, California.

Best known for his role as the debonair John Steed in the 1960s cult classic – and its 1970s revival as The New Avengers – Macnee’s mellifluous tones and charming personality featured in many other genre films and shows, including Roger Moore’s final Bond film, A View to a Kill. He played Count Iblis in the original Battlestar Galactica, and starred in Joe Dante’s horror movie The Howling. In the 1983 Man From UNCLE reunion movie, he played Sir John Raleigh, the new head of UNCLE.

In addition to volumes of autobiography, he co-wrote two Avengers novels with Peter Leslie during the 1960s featuring Diana Rigg’s character Emma Peel.

“Truly one of the fabled ‘nicest guys in show business’! He helped make THE HOWLING something special,” wrote Joe Dante on Twitter.

“So very sad to hear Pat MacNee has left us. We were mates from 1950s and I have so many happy memories of working with him. A true gent,” Sir Roger Moore commented.