Dirk Bogarde, a renowned actor of stage, screen and television, has died on May 8th of 1999, in London. He was 78 years old. Born in 1921 in West Hampstead, London, Dirk Bogarde was initially reluctant to pursue a career in acting; after attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he began his career on stage in the late 1930s, playing a variety of roles including Shakespearean and contemporary theater. Bogarde's film career, however, began in 1947 with the movie "In The Command of the House". In 1961, he obtained fame with the movie "Victim" for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Throughout his four-decade career, Bogarde earned worldwide recognition for his roles in such films as "The Servant", "The Night Porter", "The Damned", "Death in Venice", "A Bridge Too Far" and "The Shooting Party". Bogarde was awarded Commander of the British Empire in 1983 for his outstanding contribution to the arts. He is survived by his brother, Anthony, and close friends.