House of the Dragon actor Sir Simon Russell Beale has been diagnosed with colon cancer.
The renowned English actor, described as the “greatest stage actor of his generation”, revealed that he has been battling the disease for the last eight months.
The 65-year-old was forced to drop out of the RSC’s Titus Andronicus at the Hampstead Theatre last September, but is determined to take a “risk” and get back to work very soon.
Beale is known for his role as Ser Simon Strong in House of The Dragon, as well as Falstaff in The Hollow Crown series and Ferdinand Lyle in Penny Dreadful.
He was rushed to hospital shortly after he wrapped filming for the Game of Thrones spin-off and was diagnosed with colon cancer soon after.
Speaking to the Radio Times, Beale said: "The last eight months have been, well it’s been a bit tricky actually, it’s a bore obviously, but it’s also tricky dropping out of things, which I’ve never done before.
"It broke my heart dropping out of Titus because it was such a good show, but that’s why I didn't do it at Hampstead.
“At the moment I’m at that funny stage of thinking, do I dare risk it? I’ve decided to risk it, I’m starting again next week."
After dropping out of the West End play, Beale was replaced by John Hodgkinson.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) said in a statement at the time: “As a company we’re all so sorry that Simon Russell Beale has had to step back from his role in Titus Andronicus.
“We all want to send him our very best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
