cancer, his second wife Patricia Maynard confirmed.The actor, who starred in shows including The Sweeney, Minder, and New Tricks, died at the age of 74 this week.‘I’m terribly sad that he’s gone but I’m really pleased that he did not suffer and died peacefully,’ Patricia said.She added to MailOnline: ‘He had lung cancer and was really quite poorly for the last couple of years.