'Allo 'Allo's Colonel Von Strohm dies

Richard Marner, the actor who played German officer Colonel Von Strohm in the hit TV series 'Allo 'Allo, has died at the age of 82, his agent said.

Marner, who was born in St Petersburg, also had film credits to his name, appearing alongside Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in the 1951 classic The African Queen.

Marner's agent and friend Lynda Ronan said the actor had appeared in every episode of the wartime comedy 'Allo 'Allo. He died in Scotland and leaves a wife Pauline, daughter and one grandchild.

She said: "His credits speak for themselves.

"He was one of the most charming, witty, humorous people you could hope to meet.

"He spoke four languages and could make a brilliant joke in all of them."

Marner, known by his real name Alexander Molchanoff-Sacha to his friends, was born in St Petersburg and came to England via Finland and Germany as a small boy.

His launched his acting career after being invalided out of the RAF.

He spent several years touring England in theatre productions and first appeared in the West End at The Stoll in Robert Stolz's Rainbow Square.

Marner also appeared in the films Reach for the Sky, Oh Rosalinda, Miracle in Soho, You Only Live Twice, Ice Cold in Alex and The Pass Word is Courage.