Porridge star left whopping £300k fortune in his will after death at 93

Peter Vaughan stars in classic Porridge moment

Veteran actor Peter Vaughan left a substantial fortune in his will after passing away at the age of 93.

Best remembered for his portrayal of the menacing gangster 'Grouty' in the BBC sitcom Porridge, Vaughan also gained international fame later in life for his role as Maester Aemon in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

In 2017 the Daily Mail revealed that Vaughan left an estate valued at £315,172 when he passed away in December 2016.

Probate records indicate that the majority of his assets were placed in trust for his second wife, Lillias, his son, and two stepdaughters.

Born Peter Ohm, Vaughan first married actress Billie Whitelaw, though their marriage ended in the 1960s.

Peter Vaughan left his estate to his second wife and kids (Image: Getty)

During his lifetime he built an impressive career with roles in films such as Straw Dogs, The French Lieutenant's Woman, Brazil, Time Bandits, The Remains of the Day, and Valentino.

His television career featured performances in Citizen Smith, Chancer, and Our Friends in the North.

Although he starred in a diverse range of films and shows, Vaughan found that fans mostly associated him with his brief role in Porridge. "It bores me rigid," he once said. "I only did about four episodes and the film but never has a role been written that has had more impact."

Vaughan often played figures of authority such as police officers, secret agents, and strict patriarchs.

The actor took pride in working on-screen even in his old age (Image: Getty)

He embraced his identity as a character actor, stating: "If you're a character actor, you don't need to wait for the next leading role. But if you are a leading man you have to wait for the next part. Sometimes that means long periods without work."

Though he was never off-screen for long, it was his role as Maester Aemon in Game of Thrones that introduced him to a younger global audience.

While reflecting on his career in one of his final interviews, he told BBC Surrey: "I've been so lucky with parts. They talk about actors resting. The only time I have ever rested in my 77 years as an actor has been when I've wanted to. Lucky, lucky, lucky."

After his sad passing, fellow actors and colleagues shared emotional tributes that spoke to his legacy. Blackadder star Tony Robinson described him as "an amazing actor," while actress Kathy Burke shared a picture of Vaughan alongside Ronnie Barker in Porridge, captioned "Beautiful Peter Vaughan."

Christopher Eccleston, who played Vaughan’s son in Our Friends In The North, credited him for being one of the greatest influences in his career, stating, "Peter was gladiatorial as an actor. There was no more intense actor on that set."

Porridge writer Dick Clement also praised Vaughan’s performance, saying: "He had a wonderful quality of being menacing at the same time funny, not an easy thing to pull off."

His agent, Sally Long-Innes, confirmed the actor’s passing, stating: "This is to confirm that very sadly Peter Vaughan passed away at approximately 10.30 this morning. He died peacefully with his family around him."