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The man who inspired Tom Hanks film The Terminal has died at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, where he lived for 18 years.

Iranian national Mehran Karimi Nasseri had a heart attack in Terminal 2F on Saturday, according to an official with the Paris airport authority.

Emergency services were called to help Mr Karimi Nasseri but could not save him.

He lived in Terminal 1 of the airport from 1988 until 2006, initially in legal limbo because he did not have residency papers.

Mr Mehran Karimi Nasseri's story inspired the 2004 film The Terminal starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta Jones Pic: AP
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Mehran Karimi Nasseri’s story inspired the 2004 film The Terminal starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta Jones. Pic: AP

But he later remained at the airport by choice, according to French media reports.

An official said he was living in the airport again in recent weeks.

His story inspired the 2004 film starring Tom Hanks, who plays Viktor Navorski, a man trapped at JFK airport in New York after being denied entry to the US – but unable to return to his homeland, the fictional eastern European state of Krakozhia, due to a military coup.

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Mr Karimi Nasseri, also known as “Sir Alfred” of Charles de Gaulle Airport, laid bare his experience in a book entitled The Terminal Man, published in the same year as the film.

He was born in 1945 in Soleiman, a part of Iran formerly under British jurisdiction, to an Iranian father and British mother.

He left Iran to study in England in 1974 but was imprisoned on his return for political activism before being expelled.

Mehran Karimi Nasseri pictured at Charles de Gaulle Airport in August 2004. Pic: AP
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Mehran Karimi Nasseri pictured at Charles de Gaulle Airport in August 2004. Pic: AP

Mr Karimi Nasseri found himself trapped in international no man’s land without the proper documentation after claiming to have been mugged on his way to Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1988.

He boarded a plane to London but was sent back to Paris – where he was arrested when he tried to leave the airport.

According to the bio for his book, Mr Karimi Nasseri was jailed for six months before returning to Charles de Gaulle airport where he was refused access to any other nation, giving him no choice but to stay.

He slept on a red plastic bench surrounded by newspapers and magazines stored in cargo boxes and showered in staff facilities.

Mr Karimi Nasseri seen sleeping at the airport Pic: AP
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Mr Karimi Nasseri seen sleeping at the airport. Pic: AP

‘Fossilised’ in airport after ordeal

He told the Associated Press in 1999: “Eventually I will leave the airport. But I am still waiting for a passport or transit visa.”

But Mr Karimi Nasseri revealed his surprise when he finally was granted refugee papers, describing his fears over leaving the airport.

He reportedly refused to sign them and stayed at Charles de Gaulle for several more years before he was admitted to a hospital in 2006.

He had been living in the airport again in recent weeks up until his death, the official with the Paris airport authority said.

A ticket agent friend compared him to a prisoner incapable of “living on the outside”.

Years of living in a windowless space impacted his physical and mental health, an airport doctor said, describing him as “fossilised here”.

As well as inspiring the Hollywood film, his story was used as the basis for French screenplay Lost In Transit and an opera entitled Flight. It was also featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles.

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Influential artist Sir Michael Craig-Martin says he’s had ‘terrible things’ said about his work

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Influential artist Sir Michael Craig-Martin says he's had 'terrible things' said about his work

Sir Michael Craig-Martin is one of the most influential artists of his generation – but he says he’s had “terrible things” said about the work he’s now famous for.

The 83-year-old’s long career is now the subject of a major retrospective opening this weekend at the Royal Academy.

But he told Sky News: “I’ve had terrible things said about all the work that now people think is wonderful… If you can’t survive criticism… you’re in the wrong game.”

The Royal Academy retrospective brings together his life’s work in one show, including his early experimental sculpture, his landmark conceptual work and a new immersive digital work.

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While much of Sir Michael’s painting has been dominated with depictions of modern icons, like laptops and iPhones, he says technology has made it “harder for people to look” at his work.

“We’ve become probably the most visual age there’s ever been and at the same time it’s become harder and harder for people to actually look,” he said.

“[Paintings] don’t move – you have to come to them, you have to give them a little time,” he explained, adding that nowadays people are more “used to something that’s doing something for them”.

The subject matter of much of Craig-Martin’s large-scale, vivid colour paintings of everyday objects – from trainers to paperclips, glasses to coffee cups – is universally understood and easily accessible.

Pic: Royal Academy of Arts, London/David Parry
Image:
Pic: Royal Academy of Arts, London/David Parry

“What’s ordinary is what unites everybody,” he explains.

“When you buy a coffee, they give you the cup. You don’t buy the cup, it’s free with the coffee, and yet to make a painting out of it is to give it a certain kind of presence, a certain kind of dignity, a way of looking at it that may be different, to what its value or use is.”

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Sir Michael Craig-Martin says it’s become harder for people to ‘actually look’ at art

Now in his 80s, Sir Michael’s work has become sought-after around the world. Not only has he proven to be one of the most successful artists of his generation, he’s also been one of the most influential teachers.

In the late 80s, his students at Goldsmiths would go on to be the headline-making Young British Artists, or YBAs as they became known – and they include Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas.

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“They were very, very young,” Sir Michael explained. “There were people who said to me that it was very dangerous for them to be having this kind of success because they were so young and my advice to them at the time was ‘if the door opens, it’s best to go through it’.”

Decades before, in 1974, he’d made headlines of his own with a piece called An Oak Tree – now widely considered a landmark moment in the history of conceptual art.

Pic: Royal Academy of Arts, London/David Parry
Image:
Pic: Royal Academy of Arts, London/David Parry

Recreated for the retrospective, provocatively you won’t find any big logs propped up in a gallery as the piece is just a glass of water on a glass shelf.

“People often do say to me… it changed my idea about what I thought art was, what it could be, my relationship, and that’s an amazing thing to be able to say.”

Challenging us all to look with fresh eyes at the ‘ordinary’ all around us, Michael Craig-Martin’s body of work is proof of why he is one of the most extraordinary artists working today.

Michael Craig-Martin is at the Royal Academy in London from 21 September to 10 December.

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Thunderbirds and Peppa Pig actor David Graham dies aged 99

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Thunderbirds and Peppa Pig actor David Graham dies aged 99

David Graham, whose voice featured in some of the UK’s favourite TV shows, including Thunderbirds and Peppa Pig, has died.

The London-born star was 99.

Jamie Anderson, the son of Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson, led the tributes on X as he called Graham a “legendary” actor.

Graham brought to life the Thunderbirds puppet characters Gordon Tracy, scientist Brains, and Lady Penelope’s driver, Aloysius “Nosey” Parker, in the series about the secret International Rescue organisation.

Graham with Parker. Pic: Geoff Pugh/Shutterstock
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David Graham with Parker from Thunderbirds. Pic: Geoff Pugh/Shutterstock

“We will miss you dearly, David. Our thoughts are with David’s friends and family,” Anderson’s post on X confirming the death on Friday said.

Anderson went on to pay tribute to Graham, who also voiced the evil Daleks in Doctor Who, saying: “David was always a wonderful friend to us here at Anderson Entertainment.”

‘What a talent’

Anderson also told the PA news agency: “Just a few weeks ago, I was with 2,000 Anderson fans at a Gerry Anderson concert in Birmingham where we sang him happy birthday – such a joyous occasion.

“And now, just a few weeks later, he’s left us. David was always kind and generous with his time and his talent. And what a talent.”

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Parker from Thunderbirds. Pic: 
Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Image:
Parker from Thunderbirds. Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Highlighting all the characters played by Graham, Anderson added: “He will be sorely missed.”

Graham returned as Parker for ITV’s remake Thunderbirds Are Go, which ran between 2015 and 2020, but not for the live-action 2004 film which saw Ron Cook take on the role.

David Graham has died. Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
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Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

The original 1965 Thunderbirds was created by Gerry Anderson, who died in 2012, and his second wife, Sylvia, the voice of Lady Penelope, who died in 2016.

Graham also played Grandpa Pig in children’s show Peppa Pig, and provided the voice for characters in Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom.

His in-person acting roles included Doctor Who, Coronation Street and Casualty.

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Cleo Sylvestre: ‘Trailblazing’ actress dies aged 79

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Cleo Sylvestre: 'Trailblazing' actress dies aged 79

“Trailblazing” actress Cleo Sylvestre who starred in films, soap operas and stage plays has died aged 79, her agent has said.

Sylvestre, also known as Cleopatra Palmer, appeared in productions as diverse as Crossroads, Shakespeare’s As You Like It and the first Paddington movie.

A spokesperson for Fulcrum Talent said: “It is with deep regret that I have to announce the sad news that Cleo Sylvestre MBE died this morning.

“Much loved and admired by her peers, she will be remembered as a trailblazer and a true friend. She will be sorely missed by so many.”

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'Crossroads' TV Show, Various Episodes UK - 1970s
Crossroads: Scenes from episodes circa 1970s - featuring, Susan Hanson, as Diane Parker, with Cleo Sylvestre as Melanie Harper - the adopted daughter of Meg Richardson

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Sylvestre and Susan Hanson in Crossroads. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock

Sylvestre was also a singer and recorded with The Rolling Stones, who backed her on a 1964 cover of To Know Him Is To Love Him. She later worked as a musician with her blues band Honey B Mama And Friends.

Born in Hertfordshire in April 1945, she was brought up in London by her mother Laureen Sylvestre and studied at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

She was made an MBE in 2023 for services to drama and charity and was married to Ian Palmer until his death in 1995.

Sylvestre enjoyed roles in some of TV’s best-known shows, including playing Melanie Harper, the adopted daughter of Meg Richardson in ITV’s long-running Crossroads, during the 1970s.

Other TV roles came in The Bill, New Tricks, Till Death Do Us Part, Grange Hill, Doctor Who and Coronation Street.

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'Strange Report' - Cleo Sylvestre

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Sylvestre in 1968. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock

Her more recent parts included ITV thriller Platform 7, and Channel 5’s revamp of All Creatures Great And Small.

Sylvestre began her acting career on the stage and was the first black actress to take a leading role in a National Theatre production – in National Health in 1969.

She made her Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) debut playing Audrey in a 2023 production of As You Like It.

Her film roles have ranged from the 2014 film Paddington, Kidulthood from 2006 and 1993’s The Punk.

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US-born playwright and author Bonnie Greer wrote on X that Sylvestre was “one of the reasons that-from my vantage point in NYC (New York City) that I thought that this country has the best anglophone theatre, and the best place to be a Black woman in it”.

She added: “I still think that. Thank you, Cleo!”

Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, the UK’s first sickle cell nurse specialist, wrote that she was “devastated” at the death of her “wonderful, kind friend”.

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