Actor David Hemmings dies on set of new movie

<br>LONDON (AP) _ David Hemmings, the British actor who attained international stardom as the existential fashion photographer in the 1966 film ``Blow Up,'' has died at age 62, his agent said Thursday.

Thursday, December 4th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ David Hemmings, the British actor who attained international stardom as the existential fashion photographer in the 1966 film ``Blow Up,'' has died at age 62, his agent said Thursday.

Hemmings, who also forged a successful career behind the camera directing for cinema and TV, died of a heart attack Wednesday while filming a movie role in Romania, said agent Liz Nelson.

Paramedics on the film set of ``Samantha's Child'' were unable to revive him, Nelson said.

``He had just finished his final shots of the day and was going back to his dressing room,'' she said. ``He had only recently returned to acting. He opted for a number of years to work on his own projects, directing and producing.''

Born Nov. 18, 1941 in Guildford, England, Hemmings began his career as a singer, with nightclub appearances in his early 20s, before moving onto the stage and gradually into films.

His early British movie roles usually saw him cast as misunderstood youths and belligerent ``Teddy Boys,'' leading to his role in Michelangelo Antonioni's ``Blow Up.''

His boyish good looks were also put to use in science-fiction romp ``Barbarella'' and the film version of the stage musical ``Camelot.'' His most recent appearance was in the 2003 Sean Connery movie ``League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.''