'The Crown' Actor Stephen Greif Dead At 78

KEY POINTS

Stephen Greif starred in "The Crown" as Speaker of the House Sir Bernard Weatherill
The late actor famously starred in the BBC sci-fi series "Blake's 7"
Fans and colleagues expressed their heartbreak online after learning about his death

Stephen Greif, the actor who played the role of Sir Bernard Weatherill in "The Crown" Season 4, has died. He was 78.

His representatives at Michelle Braidman Associates confirmed the heartbreaking news Monday, writing that their "wonderful client" had passed away.

"With great sadness, we announce the death of our wonderful client Stephen Greif," the press release read. "His extensive career included numerous roles on screen and stage, including at the National Theatre, RSC and in the West End. We will miss him dearly and our thoughts are with his family and friends."

No details about Greif's cause of death were disclosed as of press time. His family has yet to release information about his funeral. Meanwhile, his colleagues and fans penned tributes for the late actor and remembered his legacy through social media.

Barnaby Edwards wrote on his Twitter account: "Very saddened to hear that Stephen Greif has left us. A rock-solid performer with a voice as liquid and deadly as molten lava. When it came to playing villains, he was unsurpassed. His acerbic wit and obvious intelligence made him a joy to direct. Thanks for the fun, Stephen."

"Raising a glass to Stephen Greif," author Nicholas Pegg stated online. "Such a fine actor, and such a lovely man. From the National Theatre to Citizen Smith, he bestowed class and elegance on all he did. And in the role of Travis in Blake's 7, he created one of British television's most unforgettable villains."

Greif started his career in 1968 when he starred in the TV series "Boy Meets Girl." His role on the show led him to land more projects, including "Edward II," "The Tragedy of King Richard II," "Nicholas and Alexandra," "The Merchant of Venice," "Special Branch," "Dixon of Dock Green," "Play for Today," "The New Avengers," "Treasure Island," "The Sandbaggers," "Doragon," "Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest," "Anno 1404," "Walking The Dead," "Doctors" and "Angel of Darkness."

He marked his last TV role in "The Crown" where he played the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Bernard Weatherill's role.

Throughout his decades-old career, the actor successfully got nominations for different award-giving bodies like Navtgr Awards, Critics Circle and Oliver Awards. He won the Best Narrator Award at the BBC Audio Books for his work in the "Boy with the magic No's."

Greif is survived by his two sons, Daniel and Joseph.