Leslie Hardcastle Cause of Death, Obituary, Funeral, Age, Wife, Children

Leslie Hardcastle Cause of Death: British film industry pioneer Leslie Hardcastle, former controller of the British Film Institute (BFI), has passed away at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy of significant contributions to the industry.

Born in Croydon, South London, in 1926, Hardcastle came from an artistic family and began his career in the film industry working for British Lion Films before joining the Navy.

Leslie Hardcastle Cause of Death, Obituary, Funeral

Following his service in the Navy, Hardcastle joined the BFI, where he started out as the person responsible for acquiring film supplies for the BFI’s National Film Theatre (NFT) located on London’s Southbank.

Hardcastle later became responsible for running the NFT, and oversaw its operations for many years, including during the formation of the London Film Festival and the construction of NFT2, the BFI’s second operational screen on-site, alongside a new restaurant.

Hardcastle was also instrumental in the establishment of the Museum of the Moving Image in London, which was situated a short distance from the BFI on London’s Southbank. The museum was dedicated to the history of cinema and filmmaking technology and was officially opened by Prince Charles in September 1988. Sadly, the museum closed temporarily in 1999 before shutting its doors permanently in 2002.

After retiring from his role in the 1990s, Hardcastle continued to serve as a consultant for the BFI, and in recognition of his contributions, he was awarded an OBE for service to film. He was also named a Fellow of the BFI and was presented with the BAFTA award for lifetime achievement in 1989.

Reacting to the news, Robin Baker, Head Curator at British Film Institute, expressed his condolences in a Tweet, saying: “Sad to hear of the death of Leslie Hardcastle. A man of many hats, he played a key role in the @BFI story. He ran the NFT (BFI Southbank); introduced the London Film Festival and NFT2 and devised the Museum of the Moving Image. Remarkable! Photo preserved by #BFINationalArchive.”

In addition to his accomplishments in the film industry, Hardcastle was actively involved in several social organizations and societies. He was a founding member of the Soho Housing Association in central London and Honorary President of the Soho Society, a community association for the London district of Soho.

Leslie Hardcastle’s contributions to the British film industry and his numerous accomplishments throughout his career have left an indelible mark on the industry, and his passing is a significant loss for the world of cinema.