Peter Wyngarde, Jason King star and Austin Powers inspiration, dies at 90

Jason King star Peter Wyngarde has died at the age of 90, his agent has confirmed. The actor was best known for his role as sleuth Jason King in Department S and its spin-off.

A heartthrob in his day, he also enjoyed numerous stage roles and appeared as Klytus in Flash Gordon and as Timanov in Doctor Who: Planet Of Fire.

His agent and manager, Thomas Bowington, said: "He was one of the most unique, original and creative actors that I have ever seen. As a man, there were few things in life he didn't know.

"I sometimes nicknamed him the King because he simply knew everything.

"He was a mentor on everything you can think of, from sports cars to how to make a good cup of tea and how to do a tie and shirt.

"He died at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (in London), and even then he was saying that you shouldn't button the upper button on a shirt. As a person he was the most exceptional person I met in my life and a great mentor and teacher."

Wyngarde signed his contract for Department S on a napkin in a restaurant and went on to make the character his own. Alongside his acting roles, Peter Wyngarde was known as the best-dressed man in Britain. He beat singer Cliff Richard and football star George Best to the award in the 1970s.

On TV, he was famed for his role as suave womaniser and writer turned sleuth Jason King. And the actor said that, when it came to his wardrobe, it was "difficult to separate" him from his famously flamboyantly dressed character, with his moustache, frilly shirts and wide-lapelled three-piece suits.

He once said that it had "cost me a small fortune" to have his suits and overcoats made. His character is said to have inspired actor Mike Myers' look for Austin Powers.

Wyngarde's agent said the actor had roles and personal appearances coming up and that he died in hospital on Monday, having been unwell for a couple of months.