The life of an acclaimed actor who lived in Hampstead Garden Suburb for more than half a century will be celebrated at a memorial event.

Sir Donald Sinden died in September last year aged 90 of prostate cancer at his home in Kent, having moved from the Suburb in 1997 after 53 years.

A celebration of the Shakespearean and 1950s film star’s life is to be held tonight at Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End at 2.30pm.

Distinguished portrait painter to the Queen, Michael Noakes, who painted Sir Donald shortly before his death last year, paid tribute to the veteran thespian’s “wonderful” sense of humour.

Mr Noakes, who is commemorated with a blue plaque on his former home in Hamilton Terrace, St John’s Wood, said: “I so enjoyed talking to him. He telephoned me once and the conversation went on for nearly an hour: then there was a pause of three minutes and he rang again and we talked for a further forty minutes.”

Sir Donald, famed for his plummy voice, was the honorary president of amateur theatre group Garden Suburb Theatre.

He was most renowned for his theatre work, but also appeared on the silver screen in sitcoms including Two’s Company. He was made a CBE in 1979 and knighted in 1997.