Inside Joss Ackland’s adoring family life: Britain’s beloved actor was married for 51 years and had seven children, 34 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren – as he leaves behind an everlasting legacy following death at 95

• A look at family life of Joss Ackland, who had nearly three dozen grandchildren 

British actor Joss Ackland died on the evening of Sunday November 19 aged 95, his family said in a statement.

Throughout his dazzling career, which spanned over six decades, he starred along a number of A-list actors, including Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery in The Hunt for Red October.

As well as sharing screen time with other British greats such as Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench, Ackland was renowned for his large extended family, as he had seven children, 34 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. 

He married Rosemary Kirkcaldy in 1951, after the couple met in Scotland while Joss was performing in a play. 

While Joss Ackland’s family life saw him survived by nearly three dozen grandchildren after having seven children of his own – Paul, Penelope, Toby, Melanie, Antonia, Samantha and Kirsty – things could have turned out very differently for the beloved actor. 

Joss Ackland’s family life saw him survived by nearly three dozen grandchildren after having seven children of his own. Pictured: Joss Ackland pictured with his wife Rosemary and children; Penelope, Samantha, Toby, Antonia and Kirsty

As well as sharing screen time with other British greats such as Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench, Ackland was renowned for his large extended family. Pictured: Ackland with his seven children 

In 1963, their house in Barnes, south-west London , caught fire and in a heroic moment of bravery, Rosemary was able to save their five children while she was five months pregnant with their sixth. Pictured: Joss and Rosemary together 

After Rosemary died at the age of 73 in 2002, Joss published her memoirs, entitled My Better Better Half and Me, in 2010

READ MORE: Joss Ackland death: British actor dies aged 95, family says – after iconic film career featuring alongside Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October

In 1963, their house in Barnes, south-west London, caught fire and in a heroic moment of bravery, Rosemary was able to save their five children while she was five months pregnant with their sixth. 

However, after she broke her back when jumping from the bedroom window, she was told she would miscarry and never have the ability to walk again. Incredibly, she later gave birth and was able to walk again after 18 months. 

Tragically, the couple’s eldest son, Paul, died of a heroin overdose in 1982, aged 29.

Another of their seven children, Kirsty, married Anthony Shawn, who is a descendant of the merchant banker Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, himself a descendant Robert Rundell Guinness, who founded the bank Guinness Mahon. 

After Joss spent the first half of the 1950s perfecting his roles in the theatre, he put his career on hold for a short while.

Accompanied by Rosemary, he embarked on a seven-week voyage by cargo boat to Beira before travelling to Malawi where the couple began working on a tea plantation at the foot of M’lanje mountain. 

They then relocated to South Africa, where Ackland attempted to find theatre work.

They remained there for over two years until 1957 when police raided their flat confiscating the children’s book Black Beauty over fears that it was subversive of apartheid.

Throughout his dazzling career, which spanned over six decades, Joss Ackland starred along a number of A-list actors, including Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery in The Hunt for Red October. Pictured: Joss and Rosemary with one of their children

After Joss spent the first half of the 1950s perfecting his roles in the theatre, he put his career on hold for a short while

Despite reaching a level of stardom that saw him mix with acting royalty, Joss remained a family man first and foremost. Pictured: Joss and Rosemary are seen here with their son Toby. 

An abstract from an old biography reads: His longest-running mate was Rosemary Kirkcaldy. They produced seven children, 32 grandchildren, and ten great–grandchildren. Pictured: Melanie, Penelope and Anthia

‘Then one day we were raided by the police and they confiscated a book, Black Beauty, because the horse was black! I was faced with prison, so I got out in a hurry,’ he previously told the Mail.

Despite reaching a level of stardom that saw him mix with acting royalty, Joss remained a family man first and foremost. 

An abstract from a biography he supplied before starring as King George V in a spin-of The King’s Speech in 2012 read: ‘His stage and screen lovers were Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Jean Simmons, Demi Moore, Claire Bloom, Glynis Johns, Shirley Maclaine, Greta Scacchi, Barbara Cook, Anouk Aimée, Dorothy Tutin and Denholm Elliott.’

‘His longest-running mate was Rosemary Kirkcaldy. They produced seven children, 32 grandchildren, and ten great–grandchildren.’ 

Joss would go on to have two more grandchildren and 20 more great-grandchildren before his death.

Rosemary was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2000, she gave Joss permission to publish her diaries, that she had began writing in 1945 aged just 15. 

After Rosemary died at the age of 73 in 2002, Joss published her memoirs, entitled My Better Better Half and Me, in 2010. 

A Daily Express interview published that year shows the profound impact Rosemary’s death had on her husband of over 50 years. 

Joss and Rosemary pose for a picture together. A statement released following Joss’ death read: ‘With his distinctive voice and commanding presence, Ackland brought a unique intensity and gravitas to his roles. ‘He will be remembered as one of Britain’s most talented and beloved actors.’

‘Whenever I played a part Rosemary would hear my lines, take notes, criticise and help,’ he said. 

‘I don’t want to sound miserable because I’m not but we were a part of each other and when she died, a part of me died too.’ 

A statement released following his death read: ‘With his distinctive voice and commanding presence, Ackland brought a unique intensity and gravitas to his roles.

‘He will be remembered as one of Britain’s most talented and beloved actors.’

Source: Read Full Article