Sir David Frost Dies at 74

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Sir David Paradine Frost, OBE  7 April 1939 – 31 August 2013

Veteran broadcaster, Sir David Frost has died at the age of 74 of a heart attack.

Born in Kent, Sir David studied at Cambridge University where he became secretary of the Footlights club, and met future comedy greats such as Peter Cook, Graham Chapman and John Bird. After university he went to work at ITV before he was asked to front the BBC programme That Was The Week That Was, which ran between 1962 and 1963.

“His family are devastated and ask for privacy at this difficult time. A family funeral will be held in the near future and details of a memorial service will be announced in due course,” a statement read.

British Prime Minister David Cameron also sent his condolences. “My heart goes out to David Frost‘s family,” he tweeted on Sunday, Sept. 1. “He could be – and certainly was with me – both a friend and a fearsome interviewer.”

Born in Kent, Sir David studied at Cambridge University where he became secretary of the Footlights club, and met future comedy greats such as Peter Cook, Graham Chapman and John Bird.

After university he went to work at ITV before he was asked to front the BBC programme That Was The Week That Was, which ran between 1962 and 1963. Casting a satirical eye over the week’s news, the show boasted scriptwriters including John Cleese, John Betjeman and Dennis Potter.

The Frost Report brought together John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett in a sketch show which would influence many comedy writers including the Monty Python crew.

Sir David’s often-mimicked catchphrase “hello, good evening and welcome” was by now in full use.

In his epic TV interview with former President Richard Nixon in 1977, Frost grilled Nixon on Watergate after he resigned from office in 12 interviews that taped for two hours a day. His interviews with Nixon were later used as the basis of the award-winning play Frost/Nixon in 2006. In an acclaimed 2008 film based on the drama, actor Michael Sheen portrayed Frost in the film as Frank Langella played the role of Nixon.

Sir David, is survived by his wife Lady Carina Fitzalan-Howard, 61, and their three sons, Miles, 29, Wilfred, 28, and George, 26.

Source: BBC