Alvin Rakoff, Canadian Director of Laurence Olivier Starrer ‘A Voyage Round My Father,’ Dies at 97

Canadian director, writer and producer Alvin Rakoff, best known for directing Laurence Olivier in "A Voyage Round My Father," has died at the age of 97.

The cause of death was "old age," his agent told Variety. He died on Oct. 12 at home, surrounded by his family.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, which began when television was still only available in black-and-white, Rakoff was involved in over 100 television, film and stage productions as well as writing novels. According to his representatives, he was still working into his '90s.

Rakoff was the third of seven children born to Sam and Pearl Rakoff in Toronto in 1927. His parents owned a dry goods shop but the director grew up in poverty after the Great Depression hit in 1929. He would later recount the experience in his novel "Baldwin Street."

After seeing his first film in a theater at the age of 6, his love of film and television was ignited. He went on to graduate with a degree in psychology from the University of Toronto before becoming a journalist. But it was watching Marlon Brando in a stage production of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" that changed the course of his life. After leaving the play, Rakoff vowed to build a career in showbusiness.

He went to work for the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) as a writer, which sent him to the U.K. when he was 25. There, he sold a script to the BBC , which at the time was the country's only television broadcaster. He then joined the BBC's director's training course and the following year became the youngest producer/director. He went on to direct dozens of dramas including "Waiting for Gillian" (1954) and "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1957) which starred then unknown actors Sean Connery (in his first leading role) and Michael Caine (as a background part).

It was Rakoff who, years later, recommended Connery for the role of Bond after 007 producer Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli called the director to ask his opinion.

Rakoff, who was also a one-time president of the Directors Guild, won Emmy awards for "Call Me Daddy" (1967), starring Donald Pleasance and Judy Cornwell, and "A Voyage Round My Father," which he produced and directed.

During his career Rakoff worked with stars including Peter Cushing, Henry Fonda, Michael Gambon, Ava Gardner, John Gielgud, Elliott Gould, Richard Harris and Angela Lansbury, among dozens of others.

Among those who have paid tribute to the director are Stephen Fry, who said: "Alvin Rakoff was a giant of film, theatre and TV. His Midas touch with spotting and fostering talent introduced the world to some of the last century's greatest stars. Typically he was working on a screenplay right up to the last."

Judi Dench commented: "I have such wonderful memories of Alvin – both being directed by him and seeing him at The Mill. A very endearing person."

Rakoff is survived by his wife of 30 years, Sally Hughes, two children from his first marriage to the late Jacqueline Hill, five grandchildren and his sister Lorraine.