ZUMA Press Inc
(2009-04-18 15:00:48)
Writer and broadcaster Clement Freud, a grandson of psychoanalysis pioneer Sigmund Freud, has died at the age of 84, his family said Thursday.
Freud, who was also a politician during a long and varied career, died at his desk in London on Wednesday, nine days short of his 85th birthday, they said.
The bearded former Liberal MP, a brother of the painter Lucian Freud, was known for his wit and was still a regular contributor on the BBC radio panel programme "Just a Minute", broadcast on BBC World Service radio.
Berlin-born Freud worked as an apprentice cook at London's Dorchester Hotel before joining the army in World War II. His political career began in 1973 when he was elected as a Liberal MP, holding his seat for 14 years.
A father of five children, including top PR businessman Matthew Freud and broadcaster Emma Freud, he was knighted in 1987, becoming Sir Clement.
A celebrated broadcaster and writer for newspapers including the Observer and the Daily Telegraph, he also took advantage of his hang-dog expression to make adverts for dog food.
Writer and actor Stephen Fry was among the first to pay tribute to him, telling BBC radio: "I got to know him because I was lucky enough to do a couple of 'Just A Minute's and I became immensely fond of him.
"I was at first very afraid of him -- a lot of people were. There were stories that he was immensely grouchy, he was rude sometimes to people who asked for autographs. I never experienced that side of him at all," he said.
Copyright 2009 AFP European Edition
