John Irvin, director of cult series and films with Schwarzenegger and Swayze, dies

British director John Irvin, celebrated for his work on the acclaimed BBC miniseries "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and films such as "Hamburger Hill" and "Raw Deal," has died at the age of 86. His death was confirmed by producer Claire Evans, who stated that Irvin passed away peacefully at his home on August 11, surrounded by his family.

Over a career that spanned more than five decades, Irvin made a notable impact on television, documentary, and feature filmmaking. He collaborated with prominent actors including Fred Astaire, Alec Guinness, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. His direction of the BBC adaptation of John le Carré's novel "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," starring Alec Guinness as George Smiley, earned him significant recognition, including two BAFTA awards and an Emmy nomination, which subsequently opened doors for him in Hollywood.

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During more than five decades of his career, Irvin left his mark on television, documentary and feature film, and collaborated with some of the biggest acting names, including Fred Astaire, Alec Guinness and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Born in Wallasey, England, in 1940, Irvin began his career as a documentarian. His short film "Inheritance," narrated by Richard Burton, garnered him his first BAFTA award. He later transitioned to television dramas and feature films. In Hollywood, he directed several notable works, such as "The Dogs of War" with Christopher Walken, "Ghost Story" with Fred Astaire, "Champions" with John Hurt, "Raw Deal" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the war drama "Hamburger Hill," and "Next of Kin" with Patrick Swayze and Liam Neeson.

In 1991, Irvin directed his own version of "Robin Hood," which was released shortly before the blockbuster starring Kevin Costner. In his later years, he focused on independent productions. His final film was "Mandela's Gun" in 2016, a biographical drama about Nelson Mandela, on which he was working on a new edit until his death. John Irvin is survived by his three children, Emilie, Luke, and Amy, and two grandchildren.

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The miniseries won two BAFTA awards and was nominated for an Emmy, and its success opened the doors to Hollywood.