'Licence To Kill' actor Pedro Armendariz Jr. dies aged 71

Mexican character actor Pedro Armendariz Jr. died Monday 26th December 2011 at the age of 71.

He was best known to James Bond fans for his role as President Hector Lopez in the 1989 adventure "Licence To Kill".

His father, Pedro Armendáriz, played Kerim Bay in "From Russia with Love".

To the wider movie going world, Armendáriz was best known for playing sly, sometimes cynical characters he endowed with wit and charisma. He appeared in approximately 200 Spanish-language titles as well as Hollywood credits including "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" (2003), "The Mask of Zorro" (1998) and "Tombstone" (1993).

He was active up until his death, seeing three films released in 2011 and having completed another two yet-to-be-released, and was preparing for a role in "Desde Dentro" shooting in the New Year.

The office of Felipe Calderon, the President of Mexico, issued a statement upon the anouncement of Armendáriz's passing, calling him "a great actor who reflected well on Mexico at home and abroad."

Although there was no immediate confirmation of the cause of death, the Mexican government news agency Notimex reported he died in New York City of cancer, but said his family had asked for their privacy to be respected.

Armendáriz had been married and divorced twice and is survived by several children.

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