United Kingdom, April 11 -- Batman Begins and Dunkirk star John Nolan has died at the age of 87.

The actor - who was the uncle of screenwriter-and-film producer Jonathan Nolan and director Christopher Nolan - passed away on April 11.

In a statement to the Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald, John's widow, Kim Hartman, described the star as "a free spirit, who always knew what he wanted and acted on his own terms; the only truly original thinker I think I ever knew. Articulate, intelligent and with an anarchic wit, he was always willing to see both sides of an argument."

She added: "He was also the kindest person I ever knew - and animals loved him too! John was a popular and talented teacher, whether explaining a Shakespeare soliloquy or how to...