Bridget Jones actor Donald Douglas dies aged 92 after a short illness
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Bridget Jones actor Donald Douglas has died at the age of 92 after a short illness.
When the legendary star passed away last week, he was in the hospital with his family and friends.
A funeral home posted a notice online announcing his death.
It reads: ‘Dear family and friends, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Douglas in Albi on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.’
Donald is survived by his wife Emma Temple, their children Amy, Liza and Jodie, and five grandchildren.
Donald was beloved for his role in the movie Bridget Jones, in which he played Admiral Darcy, actor Colin Firth’s on-screen father.
Bridget Jones actor Donald Douglas dies at 92 after a short illness
When the legendary star passed away last week, he was in the hospital with his family and friends (photo taken in 1968)
The star has also appeared in hit shows such as Doctor Who and Poldark.
Born in Falkirk, Scotland, in 1933, Donald studied at Edinburgh College of Art before attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
His television breakthrough as an actor came when he starred in Walter Scott’s novels Redgauntlet and Rob Roy.
During his long career on screen, Donald played the role of Hugh Aitken in the BBC soap EastEnders.
It was a brief appearance in April 1995, appearing in only a few episodes.
Following the news of his death, tributes began to pour in, led by Douglas’ close friend Merideth Wheeler.
He wrote emotionally: ‘Donald was talented in many ways other than acting and performance.
‘A playful and talented artist, he has worked with all types of media, from sculpture to painting. He was an expert in ceramic restoration.
Donald received critical acclaim for his role in Bridget Jones, in which he played Admiral Darcy, actor Colin Firth’s on-screen father (pictured in character in 2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary)
The popular actor also played the character Vural in Doctor Who in the 1970s.
‘He set a beautiful table and was a wonderful cook. It was a pleasure to attend dinner at his beautiful home with his partner, Emma Temple.
‘He and Emma were a great rider and loved their dogs. Gardening was fascinating, as the montage shows.
‘He had a wicked sense of humor and a generous heart.’
Actor Toby Hadoke also remembered Douglas and shared the following with his followers: ‘What an actor. He always brought some gravitas and a touch of class to his roles, which I guess is why his resume is full of amazing work.
He was brilliant in ‘Poldark’, his Vural in Doctor Who’s Sontaran Experiment was far more comprehensive and believable than it would have been in lesser hands…
‘…and he was Colin Firth’s father in Bridget Jones, for God’s sake.’
