Warren Clarke Dead at 67: British Actor Worked on A Clockwork Orange and Dalziel and Pascoe

Talented star died peacefully in his sleep after a short illness

British actor Warren Clarke, who was well-known for a variety of roles on the big and small screen, passed away this week. He was 67.

"The actor Warren Clarke died peacefully in his sleep on November 12, 2014, after a short illness," the actor's rep confirmed in a statement to The Guardian newspaper. "He will be greatly missed by his family and loved ones."

Raised in Lancashire in northwest England, the likable actor considered himself more than lucky to have achieved great success in such a competitive industry.

[I'm a] lucky bastard," he told the Daily Mail back in 2011. "Although I've worked nearly 50 years for this, through the tough times as well as the good times."

Those good times included a starring role in the 1971 movie A Clockwork Orange. In the controversial big-screen adaptation, Clarke starred alongside Malcolm McDowell to play the thuggish Dim.

"He was truly a fantastic actor. As well as being a incredibly funny mimic!" McDowell shared with ITV News. "He always got me laughing into tears with his rendition of Eddie Waring, the rugby league commentator."

Other movie projects soon followed including roles in Anthony and Cleopatra, S.O.S. Titantic, Top Secret! and Ishtar.

Across the pond in the U.K., Clark gained fans as grumpy police detective Dalziel in Dalziel and Pasco. The long-running series ran from 1996 until 2007.

His most recent appearances included screen time on the BBC dramas Call the Midwife and Down to Earth.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.