Sir David Paradine Frost, OBE (7 April 1939 - 31 August 2013) was an English journalist, comedian, writer, media personality and daytime TV game show host, who won fame around the world for his TV interviews with former President Richard Nixon, has died, his family told The BBC.

He died of a alleged heart attack Saturday night aboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, where he was due to give a speech, the family said.

Known both for a pleasant personality and intense interviews with eminent public figures for 40 years, Frost was estimated to be worth £200 million by the Sunday Times Rich List in 2006. The valuation included the assets of his main British company and subsidiaries, plus homes in London and the country.

Sir David Frost was the only person to have interviewed all eight British prime ministers serving between 1964 and 2010 (Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron) and all seven US presidents in office between 1969 and 2008 (Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush). Outside world affairs, his roster ranged from Orson Welles to Muhammad Ali to Clint Eastwood.

"His family are devastated and ask for privacy at this difficult time. A family funeral will be held in the near future and details of a memorial service will be announced in due course."

UK Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute on social media instantly, tweeting: "My heart goes out to David Frost's family. He could be - and certainly was with me - both a friend and a fearsome interviewer."

Stephen Fry also paid tribute on Twitter as well: "Oh heavens, David Frost dead? No!! I only spoke to him on Friday and he sounded so well. Excited about a house move, full of plans... how sad."

David Frost best known for his legendary interview with former US President Richard Nixon

His Nixon interview became the inspiration for the 2008 Academy Award nominated movie, Frost/Nixon.

His more memorable shows:

  • The Frost Report
  • Through the Keyhole

Selected awards and honours

  • 1970: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
  • 1993: Knight Bachelor
  • 1994: From the University of Sussex Honorary doctoral degree
  • 2005: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA Fellowship
  • 2009: The University of Winchester, Honorary Doctor of Letters degree
  • 2009: Lifetime Achievement Award at the Emmy Awards

Sir David Frost was the patron of the following organisations:

  • TheMotor Neurone Disease Associationcharity
  • Alzheimer's Research Trust, the Hearing Trust
  • East Anglia's Children's Hospices
  • The Home Farm Trust
  • The Elton John AIDS Foundation

May your soul Rest In Peace 'Sir David Frost'!

See the videos below to get a feel for his interview's depth and reach:

popwrapped.tumblr.com
www.youtube.com/user/AssociatedPress
www.youtube.com/user/FrontlineClubLondon
www.youtube.com/user/mistere999
www.youtube.com/user/AlJazeeraEnglish
Twitter Aids London