The actor of Game of Thrones, Vaughan, dies at 93

His agent, Sally Long-Innes, said he passed away yesterday morning "peacefully with his family around him".

Despite being in only three episodes of Porridge alongside Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, Vaughan made his mark as villain Harry 'Grouty' Grout.

He was appearing in a play when he was asked to take on the role.

"I still get people saying 'Let you out, have they, Grouty?" the actor said more than 40 years later.

"I was in just three episodes and, of course, the feature film, so I have to thank the writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais for the fact I'm one of the characters people always remember when they talk about Porridge because Grouty is so prominent - even though I'm not there.

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"Everybody's frightened to death of him, so they talked about him a lot and so it was a huge character but I didn't have to be there," he previously told the Sunday Post.

Vaughan was also known for 1970s TV series Citizen Smith and later, Our Friends In The North, playing Felix Hutchinson, Christopher Eccleston's character's father.

He played "a hard nut with Alzheimer's" and said afterward: "It was the first time that had been done."

He also appeared in 1967 spy thriller The Naked Runner, starring Frank Sinatra.

But recently it was starring in Game Of Thrones (left), which made him famous to millions around the world.

The actor was partially sighted and portrayed the blind character for five years.

Vaughan was born Peter Ohm on April 4, 1924,  in Shropshire. He was married to actress Billie Whitelaw for 12 years. Vaughan later wed actress Lillias Walker.

Game Of Thrones star John Bradley paid tribute to his on-screen mentor. Bradley, who plays Samwell Tarly in the series, said Vaughan could "terrify and enchant in equal measure".

"His enthusiasm, passion and kindness were matched only by the power and precision of his performances," he said

Belfast Telegraph