Sir David Frost
John Cleese has led tributes to Sir David Frost.
The 73-year-old actor insists his life will feel "rather diminished" following the passing of the legendary broadcaster, who died of a heart attack aged 74 on Saturday (31.08.13), and he praised the TV interviewer for helping to launch his career on the 1960s satirical show 'The Frost Report'.
Cleese said: "I had known him for 52 years and I was extraordinarily fond of him.
"He was always fun and kind and interesting and I never heard him make a mean comment about anyone.
"I owe a great deal of my professional career to David and I am very grateful for what he did for me.
"Life is going to feel rather diminished by the loss of his welcoming, cheery and optimistic voice."
Frost influenced the careers of many including Sir Michael Parkinson, who admits he was fortunate to have known the broadcaster.
Speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire, he said: "He was a remarkable man, I was lucky to know him. He was extraordinary and inspired a generation.
"An incredibly talented man, adept at so many things, an all rounder.
"He was part of the cultural opening up of the 1960s, and he broke boundaries."
Frost passed away hours after boarding the Queen Elizabeth ship in Southampton, Southern England, on which he was due to be a guest speaker on a 10-day Mediterranean cruise.
The late star was known for his fearless interviewing style and he was most famous for a 1977 interview with disgraced US President with Richard Nixon, during which he prompted the politician to admit his wrongdoing in the 1974 Watergate scandal.
The interview inspired 2008 movie 'Frost/Nixon', in which Michael Sheen portrayed the broadcaster, and director Ron Howard was a huge fan of David's interviewing technique.
Howard said: "He had the nerve to do this outrageous, ridiculous thing of bundling these local stations together and still create a mega television event and it worked."
Tagged in John Cleese Michael Sheen Ron Howard