Magnanimous in charm, diminutive of stature, turbulent in love - Dudley Moore, a permanent fixture in gossip columns and female affections, has been one of Hollywood's most unlikely sex symbols. Four marriages, countless lovers and romantic links with many of the world's most beautiful women have proved that, like fine wine, his appeal merely becomes stronger by the year.

Dudley Moore had an isolated childhood as the clubfooted son of a Dagenham railwayman. He was loved for the downtrodden part he played in his long-running, ground-breaking comic partnership with Peter Cook and the hit roles in 10 and Arthur that propelled him to superstardom. He had steamy, stormy marriages to Suzy Kendall, Tuesday Weld, Brogan Lane and Nicole Rothschild.

He is now, sadly, suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).