'World's Oldest' Theatre Actor Dies Aged 97

Romanian legend Radu Beligan, who held the Guinness record as the world's oldest theater actor, died on Wednesday aged 97 in a hospital in the capital Bucharest, medical staff said.

After a prolific career spanning more than 70 years, the star passed away in his sleep, the director of the Elias hospital, Dana Safta, said.

Beligan last performed in April at the National Theater in Bucharest, where he had played a lead role in Jean Anouilh’s "Number Number" to sellout audiences since 2004.

Born on December 18, 1918, Beligan made his debut in 1937 in Bucharest in a stage version of "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

He went on to star in some 100 plays and movies, and became a well-known TV and radio personality.

But he was also criticized in artists' circles for his membership of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party between 1969 and 1989.

After the fall of communism, he was forced to step down as director of the National Theater in 1990 after protests from his peers.

In December 2013, the Guinness World Records awarded Beligan the title of "oldest active theater professional."

The vote raised some eyebrows in Russia where actor Vladimir Zeldin celebrated his 101th birthday earlier this year on stage in Moscow.