TRIBUTES have been paid to a much loved 'face of Weymouth' who became a movie extra in later life entirely by accident.

Ivor Charles, who has died aged 83, was a regular fixture around Weymouth harbourside, be it passing the time on his beloved boat Humdinger or dancing the foxtrot in town pubs with a queue of women lining up to partner him.

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The dad-of-three passed away after a long and brave fight with liver cancer. He leaves daughters Lorraine, Tracey and Mandy, five grandsons, six granddaughters and three great granddaughters.

Ivor's long career working on film sets - which has seen him rub shoulders with the likes of Charlize Theron, Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett and Stellen Skarsgard - began entirely by accident in 2008.

Ivor was first talent-spotted when a member of the film crew of the Boat that Rocked - which was partly filmed on Portland - spotted him stood around having a cigarette after just coming off his boat.

Ivor's daughter Lorraine said: "A guy came up to him. He thought dad was there for casting for The Boat That Rocked, and directed him to the director Richard Curtis on the film set. Dad explained he was not there for the film, the guy said 'you should be'. Dad thought 'why not?' and that was the start of it."

Lorraine then set her father up with a casting agency, leading to postcards published of Ivor smoking outside the harbour master's door and an appearance in the book Faces of Dorset.

Ivor was known around Weymouth as 'the Captain'. Fittingly, aged 75, Ivor played the role of Captain Smith, captain of the Titanic, in a National Geographical documentary on the ill-fated liner.

He also appeared in Tim Burton’s 2012 gothic comedy Dark Shadows, the final film produced by legendary film producer Richard Zanuck, whom Ivor was extremely proud to share a pint with.

Other credits to Ivor's name were 2012 fantasy Snow White and the Huntsman, fantasy drama series Da Vinci's Demons and the live action version of Cinderella. Also appearing on the small screen, Ivor was in sitcom Trollied.

Lorraine said: "Dad always joked that he should have been Captain Birdseye - just a leaner, meaner, more healthy looking version."

Ivor was born in 1938 and served in the Army, Coldstream Guards and the Grenadier Guards stationed outside Buckingham Palace.

Originally from Yeovil, Ivor made Weymouth his home for the second half of his life and spent the best part of his life in the resort, Lorraine said.

"As children we would stay in a caravan on weekends and school holidays in Weymouth and West Bay. Dad would take us crabbing from the boat or pier then he would go sea fishing for mackerel and come back late, wake up his 'three girls', as we were known, to have fresh mackerel which dad would cook for us. In later years he would take the grandkids crabbing and fishing."

A keen supporter of the Weymouth's MV Freedom charity and the RNLI, Ivor would ask any tourists who wished to take his picture to make a donation to Weymouth Lifeboat in exchange for a photograph.

Lorraine said: "He was always being asked, so over the years he must have made quite a contribution to this fantastic charity which he held in such high regard."

Ivor's life was always near or on the sea, she added. "He was kind hearted and well respected by the people in Weymouth, which he called his second family," Lorraine said.

In the evenings Ivor would take part in his second passion, dancing in pubs with live music.

Lorraine said: "Dad taught me to foxtrot, waltz and jive. He would have ladies queueing up to take their turn to dance with them. One day whilst out with my two sisters Tracey and Mandy in one of these music events, I went to dance with my dad and a lady came up to me and said 'there's a queue you need to wait your turn'. My sister Tracey claims this to be one of the funniest moments we ever had, as I replied 'Excuse me, I'm his eldest daughter and I don't need to wait!" Dad chuckled and looking over at the lady said "Don't worry you can be next". We all then fell about laughing."

A memorial page has been set up for Ivor for the RNLI so anyone wanting to share stories, photos or make a donation in his name can do so. It can be found at www.ivorcharles.muchloved.com/

Ivor's funeral will be held on May 19 at 12 noon at St Michael and All Angels Church, St Michael's Road, Yeovil.