user: Oscar Nominated Actor Frank Finlay Dies at 89

01/31/2016 AT 07:15 PM EST

Frank Finlay, the British actor known for his Oscar-nominated work as Iago in

, has died, according to his

"We are very saddened to announce that Frank died today 30th January 2016 at home surrounded by his family," the statement read. "He was a fine actor and will be very much missed by his friends and family."

Finlay, who was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Doreen Shepherd, had over 100 credits to his name and last appeared in the U.K.'s television mini-series

Notable roles include Casanova in the similarly titled 1971 mini-series and 1976's

The actor was also once a member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company, where he first faced off against the iconic star in the stage production of

"RIP my Grandfather Frank Finlay CBE," musician Josh Coombes, his grandson wrote on Twitter. "Funny, loving, amazing storyteller, inspiration & one of the best actors this country has ever seen."

RIP my Grandfather Frank Finlay CBE. Funny, loving, amazing storyteller, inspiration & one of the best actors this country has ever seen

Other stars voiced their condolences online, including

"Had the pleasure of working with and watching Frank Finlay in Olivier's NT company 1973," Bradley wrote. "Down to earth, funny, and always brilliant. RIP Frank."

Had the pleasure of working with and watching Frank Finlay in Olivier's NT company 1973. Down to earth,funny,and always brilliant. RIP Frank

Added musician David Essex, "So sorry that dear Frank Finlay passed away yesterday. He was a wonderful Actor and a gentleman. As Bligh in Mutiny he was inspiring RIP."

So sorry that dear Frank Finlay passed away yesterday. He was a wonderful Actor and a gentleman. As Bligh in Mutiny he was inspiring RIP.

Finlay had three children: Stephen, Daniel and Cathy (Coombes' mother) Finlay. Stephen died in 2004.

summary: Finlay's death was announced on his personal website

The Official Weinergate Headline Timeline

Someone not from the GOP machine is going to have to explain to me why he has to resign. He did nothing illegal and nothing that was the business of anyone outside his own marriage. Now, what was the last possible hope for clarity, sense and actual straight talk in the shell that is American politics is gone because we fell victim to the 24 hour news cycle and the GOP PR machine.

summary: The Official Weinergate Headline Timeline: It's finally over (but was funny while it lasted).  See you later, Weiner (Spitzer/Weiner talk show please)...

John Constable painting transferred to public ownership in lieu of £1m tax

An important John Constable landscape showing one of the most famous of all British pastoral scenes has been accepted for the nation in lieu of more than £1m tax, it was announced on Tuesday.

Willy Lott’s House from the Stour (The Valley Farm) is the same cottage seen from a different angle in Constable’s most famous painting, the slightly later The Hay Wain.

Arts Council England said the painting settled £1,012,200 of inheritance tax and would be permanently allocated to the Ashmolean in Oxford.

Alexander Sturgis, the new director of the Ashmolean, said: “It is a huge honour to receive this beautiful painting – the first finished work by Constable to come to the Ashmolean – in my first month as director.

“The painting is on display in the 19th-century gallery where it can now be enjoyed by thousands of visitors in perpetuity.”

The painting was executed between 1816-18 and has had an interesting history. Once owned Jonathan Peel, the younger brother of prime minister Robert Peel, it was sold in 1848 and acquired by the New York millionaire and collector James Lennox – thus becoming, it is believed, the first Constable to enter an American collection. It returned to the UK in 1956.

Sir Peter Bazalgette, ACE’s chair, said it was a “gorgeous oil painting” and a wonderful addition to the Ashmolean. “The AIL scheme has once again delivered a really important acquisition for the nation.”

The bucolic, unchanging Suffolk scene at Flatford was one Constable returned to again and again, a nostalgic symbol of the “natural” way of life.

As well as The Hay Wain in the National Gallery there is The Valley Farm in the Tate collection.

It now joins and complements four Constable oil sketches that the Ashmolean also holds.

summary:

assistant: Arts Council England confirms settlement for Willy Lott’s House from the Stour permanently allocated to Ashmolean in Oxford