Adam Faith, 'working-class hero', dies at 62

Adam Faith, the pop singer turned actor whose career spanned five decades, has died from a heart attack at the age of 62.

The star, who had a history of cardiac problems, died in hospital in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday. He had been taken ill at his hotel on Friday night following a starring role in the play Love and Marriage at the city's Regent Theatre.

Faith, who lived in Tudeley in Kent, leaves a wife, Jackie, and daughter, Katya, aged 32.

Last night, Cilla Black, a contemporary of Faith in his Swinging Sixties heyday, led the tributes, describing him as "a true working-class hero".

"I'm deeply shocked and saddened," she said. "Adam Faith was a pioneer of pop in the Sixties and a great actor."

The actress Georgina Hale, who played Faith's long-suffering wife Jean in the popular 1970s comedy-drama Budgie, praised his "great charisma and charm". "He was this cockney kid, coming from a tough working-class background, but he had this burning ambition," she said.

Alan Yentob, the BBC's director of drama, entertainment and children's programmes, described Faith, who recently starred in BBC1 sitcom The House that Jack Built, as "hugely likeable".

"It's very sad," he said. "Adam was a hugely likeable man, always exuberant and a very dapper all-rounder."

Describing Faith as "a workaholic", the DJ Tony Blackburn said: "He was just so nice. There was no ego there." Alan Freeman added: "We worked together many times. My lasting memory was of a young man who was never less than a perfect gentleman."

Gerry Marsden, lead singer of 1960s group Gerry and the Pacemakers, whose first number one, "How Do You Do It?", was originally written for Faith, said: "He was never big-headed, and to me that's what made him a star."

Neville Granger, the producer of Love and Marriage, which will continue touring with Faith's understudy, said: "We're in absolute shock. He seemed a bit tired when I saw him. The last thing he said to me was 'see you tomorrow'."

Born Terence Nelhams in June 1940 in Acton, west London, Faith left school at 15. After a stint as a messenger for Rank Screen Services, he formed a skiffle group, the Worried Men, and was spotted by Jack Good, the director of the BBC pop show Six-Five Special. As Adam Faith, he went on to have a string of hits, including number one singles "Poor Me" and "What Do You Want?". Though best known for his chirpy songs and his role as petty crook Budgie, Faith also worked as a financial adviser, until being made bankrupt last October.

The impresario David Courtney, Faith's friend and collaborator for 37 years, said: "He never really saw himself as a great singer. He originally wanted to be a film editor. He just got sidetracked."