Bowie mentor and mime star dies suddenly at 80

LINDSAY Kemp, the dancer, actor and mime artist who counted David Bowie and Kate Bush among his students, has died at the age of 80.

The choreographer – who also had roles in a string of art house movies, notably The Wicker Man – died in Livorno in Italy yesterday morning.

Friends say he had been working in the hours leading up to his death.

Filmmaker Nendie PintoDuschinsky, who is making a documentary about his life, said: ‘It was very sudden, and he had the perfect day rehearsing with his students, about to work more on his memoirs, about to go on tour. He was very happy.’

Brought up by his widowed mother in South Shields, Kemp began dancing professionally in the 1960s. In 1972 he choreographed Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust concerts at London’s Rainbow Theatre and appeared in the video for John, I’m Only Dancing. He also taught dance movement to Bowie and Kate Bush.

Tributes were posted on social media. Actor Nicholas Pegg wrote: ‘Lindsay Kemp was one of life’s originals.’ Julian Clary wrote: ‘Rest in Peace Lindsay.’