Sir Jonathan Miller, 85, remembered as a creative genius in British culture

The family of theatre director Sir Jonathan Miller have said he will leave “a huge hole in our lives” following his death at the age of 85.

The polymath first found fame in the early 1960s in the revue Beyond The Fringe with Peter Cook , Dudley Moore and Alan Bennett after giving up a career as a doctor, and went on to become one of the most influential figures in British culture of his generation.

He made his directing debut in 1962 with John Osborne’s Under Plain Cover and went on to direct theatre and television plays, including The Merchant Of Venice at the National Theatre and six of the BBC Television Shakespeare plays.

His started directing opera in the 1970s, when he worked for Kent Opera, Glyndebourne and English National Opera, with whom he had a four-decade relationship, while his Royal Opera production of Cosi fan tutte was a staple of the repertory for nearly 20 years.

His family said in a statement: “Our father died this morning peacefully at home with his family around him following a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

“He was 85 and leaves his wife Rachel and children Tom, William and Kate. His death is a great loss to our family and to his friends and will leave a huge hole in our lives.”

Sir Jonathan was also acclaimed as an author – writing books on subjects ranging from Freud to acting in opera – an artist, photographer, sculptor and television presenter, fronting shows such as The Body In Question and Atheism: a Rough History Of Disbelief.

He was also an artistic director of the Old Vic and was knighted in 2002 for services to music and the arts.

Tony Hall, director-general of the BBC, said: “Jonathan Miller was a creative genius whose imagination knew no bounds.

“He was a doctor; a writer; producer; director; presenter – a creator who enjoyed a remarkable career in theatre, television and opera.”

Oliver Mears, director of opera at the Royal Opera House, said: “Jonathan Miller was one of the most important figures in British theatre and opera of the past half century.”

Picture: Getty.