'Not a day goes by...': John Thaw's daughter shares tribute to late actor on his 81st birthday after his death from cancer at 60

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John Thaw's daughter has remembered the late actor on what would have been his 81st birthday.

The Inspector Morse star died at the age of 60 in February 2002 after a battle with oesophageal cancer.

His daughter Abigail, 57, took to Twitter on Tuesday to share tribute to him, posting  a picture of the two of them and writing: 'Would have been 81 today.

Tribute: John Thaw's daughter has remembered the late actor on what would have been his 81st birthday

'Happy birthday dad. Not a day goes by...'

John's wife Sheila Hancock released a statement at the time of his death, saying: 'John died with his family around him.

"We have all been so grateful for the thousands of letters and messages from people wishing him well.

'Everyone including the media have been wonderful during this difficult period and I would like them all to know how much their support and understanding has meant to him and to all of us.'

The Inspector Morse star died at the age of 60 in February 2002 after a battle with oesophageal cancer.

John - who was made a CBE in 1993 - saw Sheila herself fight back from breast cancer 13 years before his death.

He had been nursed at the couple's home in Luckington, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, before his death.

Leading the tributes was ITV's director of channels, David Liddiment, who said: 'Throughout his distinguished career John understood the power of the small screen. 

'He was the consummate television actor and caught the imagination of millions of viewers.

In memory: His daughter Abigail, 57, took to Twitter on Tuesday to share tribute to him, posting a picture of the two of them and writing: 'Would have been 81 today'

'He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with Sheila and his family.'

Television producer Ted Childs who worked with John for nearly 30 years on Morse, The Sweeney and other programmes, said: 'John was as he has been throughout his illness - very positive, funny and self-effacing.

'Even in recent weeks, when he clearly wasn't very well, he was anxious to get back to work and had a great sense of humour.

John was 'quite a private person' who shied away from the limelight despite the attention his immense success brought, Ted said.

Iconic role: He played Morse for 13 years before the gruff, opera-loving Oxford detective was finally killed off in 2000

'He wasn't somebody who was desperate for showbusiness recognition. He was very much a family man.'

He added: "It is quite devastating, obviously for his family but also for those of us who knew him and worked with him over the years'.

Actress Sarah Lancashire, who starred with John in ITV drama The Glass, said he was a 'national treasure' and would be 'greatly missed'.

The former Coronation Street star said: 'It was a privilege to have worked with John but an even greater one to have known him, albeit briefly, as a friend.'

Clive Jones, the chief executive of Carlton, which made Inspector Morse, Goodnight Mister Tom and Kavanagh QC, said John was 'one of the great actors of his generation'. 

Fame: He was catapulted to stardom in 1974 as hardman DI Jack Regan in gritty cop series The Sweeney, and a spin-off movie landed the Evening Standard Best Film Actor of the Year Award in 1977

'He was universally the viewers' choice,' he said.

'He will be remembered for some outstanding theatre and television work, but most of all for setting new standards in television films with Inspector Morse.'

Rada-trained John landed his first film role in 1962 in the landmark movie The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner.

He was catapulted to stardom in 1974 as hardman DI Jack Regan in gritty cop series The Sweeney, and a spin-off movie landed the Evening Standard Best Film Actor of the Year Award in 1977.

Tragic: John's wife Sheila Hancock released a statement at the time of his death, saying: 'John died with his family around him'

John, who also performed West End and Shakespearean stage roles, became known for building up solid characters such as Kavanagh and Morse.

He played Morse for 13 years before the gruff, opera-loving Oxford detective was finally killed off in 2000.

He has also performed in a number of short series such as Monsignor Renard and one-off dramas like Buried Treasure.

Sheila - whom he married in 1973 - lost her first husband Alec Ross to oesophageal cancer as well in 1971.

Sad: Sheila - whom he married in 1973 - lost her first husband Alec Ross to oesophageal cancer as well in 1971