Victor Spinetti, actor in three Beatles movies, dies at 82

Victor Spinetti, an actor who appeared in three Beatles films and was a Tony Award winner, died at the age of 82 on June 19, according to The Associated Press.

Spinetti died on the morning of June 19 after suffering from cancer for several years. The actor became known for his appearances in Beatles movies "A Hard Day's Night," 'Help," and "Magical Mystery Tour." Spinetti also won a Tony Award in 1965 for his performance in "Oh, What a Lovely War" on Broadway.

Spinetti revealed in 2010 at a London Beatles Day event that he was cast in "A Hard Day's Night" because of band member George Harrison.

"He said, 'you gotta be in all our films otherwise me mum wouldn't come and see 'em, because she fancies you,"' Spinetti said at the time, according to the wire service. "That was why I was in."

Spinetti co-authored "The John Lennon Play: In His Own Write" with Adrienne Kenney. The play was based on the writings of John Lennon and it opened in June 1968 in London.

Born Vittorio Georgio Andrea Spinetti in 1929, the actor's father was Italian and his mother was Welsh. He studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff before moving to London to develop his acting career.

The actor has appeared in over 30 films and shared the screen twice opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in "The Taming of the Shrew" and "Under Milk Wood."

Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.

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