The nightmare that is COVID-19 – otherwise known as the Coronavirus – has infected over 858,600 individuals and killed 42151 people the world over. It’s a deadly contagion – and has inevitably affected people in the film, music and television industries as well.
So, it is with great sadness to say that British dialect coach Andrew Jack has succumbed to the Coronavirus.
The news was announced in TMZ on Tuesday. Jack, who was 76 at the time of death, is known for being a dialect coach in many big Hollywood productions. He worked with over 200 actors to perfect their accents including Pierce Brosnan and Robert Downey Jr. His credits include the likes of GoldenEye 007, Sherlock Holmes and Lord of the Rings.
He is also notable for playing Caluan Ematt in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
On Twitter, Jack’s widow, Gabrielle Rogers, posted a heartwarming but saddening Tweet, describing how her husband passed.
We lost a man today. Andrew Jack was diagnosed with Coronavirus 2 days ago. He was in no pain, and he slipped away peacefully knowing that his family were all ‘with’ him.
Take care out there, lovers x@RealHughJackman @chrishemsworth @RobertDowneyJr pic.twitter.com/fm5LevA8n2
— Gabrielle Rogers (@GabrielleRoger1) March 31, 2020
Following her tweet, famous faces that Jack worked with during his lengthy career began showing their heartfelt appreciation for him on the website.
This included Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and whom Jack helped develop his iconic Westcountry English accent for the films.
Andrew Jack made a mean curryAndrew Jack was powerful & gentle in equal measureAndrew Jack was funnyAndrew Jack was brilliantAndrew Jack loved a unique theory of gravity, that we are all being pushed down, instead of pulled downWe loved Andrew Jackhttps://t.co/PNxMop2udN
— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) March 31, 2020
Meanwhile, Billy Boyd who played Pippin in the same trilogy of films, expressed his sincere condolences for Jack, describing him as a “beautiful soul”:
Andrew Jack, a beautiful soul. So many wonderful memories with this amazing man, he had the best stories and always excited to hear others. Such an honest beautiful spirit. Sleep well Andrew , I will miss you. X https://t.co/eQ9dhCaEto
— Billy Boyd (@BillyBoydActor) April 1, 2020
J.J. Abrams, who directed him in The Force Awakens, also chimed in with his thoughts, describing the dialect coach as “as lovely as they come” and saying that he was “so handsome, we had to cast him”:
https://t.co/4PnXpF7ohS pic.twitter.com/zcAR7tHgL4
— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) March 31, 2020
In the meantime, Abrams suggested that everyone stay safe. We do, too.
