STARS of theatre and television have paid tribute to director Howard Davies, who was born the son of a North-East miner.

Durham-born Davies was a prominent theatre and TV director, having worked on productions in London's West End and New York's Broadway. He died aged 71 following a short battle with cancer.

Actor and Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss, originally of School Aycliffe, near Darlington, paid tribute on Twitter saying Davies's death was a "huge loss to the theatre".

He said: "Honoured to have worked with the great Howard Davies. Simply one of the very best. Funny, forensic, passionate."

Actor and director Samuel West praised Davies for building casts "like making a cake - never afraid to change the recipe slightly as long as the thing rose. And it always did.

"His production of Private Lives broke the mould; it became a vicious, painfully funny study of people in love who couldn't live together.

"And his shows were reliably good. I saw dozens. If he'd directed it, you know you'd have a fine, provoking evening. A great, great loss."

Blackadder star Tony Robinson led the tributes on Twitter, writing: "RIP my dear and wonderful friend the brilliant director Howard Davies."

Josie Rourke, the artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse theatre, said: "In a preview of Les Liaisons Dangereuses thinking about the incomparably gifted and kind Howard Davies, the play's first director. RIP."

Davies was born in Durham in 1945 and went on to study at Durham University and Bristol University, before stints working at the Bristol Old Vic and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

During his long career Davies won three Best Director Laurence Olivier Awards for his productions The Iceman Cometh, All My Sons and The White Guard.

He worked extensively at London's Almeida theatre as well as the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

His Broadway debut came in 1981 with a production of Piaf. There, he also worked on productions of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and My Fair Lady.

Davies received three Tony Award nominations for his work as a director in the New York theatre community.

He was appointed a CBE in 2011 for his services to drama.

A statement from Davies's family confirmed he died on October 25 following a short battle with cancer.

They said: "It is a devastating loss to his family, friends and the people who loved and worked with him.

"He was a wonderful, loving husband, father and grandfather, and a phenomenally talented director. He will be hugely missed."

A statement from the National Theatre said it was "profoundly saddened" to hear of his death.