'Tinker Tailor' filmmaker John Irvin dies at 86

British filmmaker John Irvin, renowned for his adaptation of John Le Carre's espionage classic "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" for television, has passed away at the age of 86, according to his producer. Mr Irvin, who also helmed a series of 1980s action films such as "The Dogs of War," "Raw Deal," and "Hamburger Hill," enjoyed a prolific five-decade career that encompassed television, documentaries, and cinema.

He breathed his last peacefully at home on August 11, surrounded by his family, a statement from his producer revealed to The Guardian. The pair collaborated on the 2016 film "Mandela's Gun," which delved into the South African ex-president's life as a guerrilla fighter for the African National Congress. Born in northern England in 1940, Irvin was honored with two BAFTAs and an Emmy nomination for his 1979 BBC adaptation of Le Carre's spy novel, which starred Alec Guinness as the enigmatic hero George Smiley.

This achievement paved the way for Hollywood, leading Irvin to produce a string of action-packed movies and other films featuring a roster of star-studded casts in the following decade. Among his notable collaborations were Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger in "The Dogs of War," Fred Astaire in the horror film "Ghost Story," Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Raw Deal," and Patrick Swayze and Liam Neeson in the crime thriller "Next of Kin." He leaves behind three children and two grandchildren, as per reports.