Famed Broadcast Journalist David Frost Dies at 74

Legendary broadcast journalist and writer David Frost, best known for his series of revealing and judicious interviews with former President Richard Nixon, has died at age 74, the BBC has confirmed.

According to his family, Frost died aboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship on Saturday night, where he was due to give a speech.

In a statement released to the BBC, Frost's relatives said: "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."

Frost shot to international broadcast fame in 1977, when he interviewed the disgraced president Nixon, the subject of which went on to inspire the Broadway play FROST/NIXON, which was later adapted for film.

Beginning in 2006, Frost has been a regular broadcast interviewer for Al Jazeera English, speaking with guests including President George Bush, Donald H. Rumsfeld, and George Clooney.

British Prime Minister David Cameron released his own statement today, saying, "Sir David was an extraordinary man, with charm, wit, talent, intelligence and warmth in equal measure...the Nixon interviews were among the great broadcast moments - but there were many other brilliant interviews..He could be - and certainly was with me - both a friend and a fearsome interviewer."

Photo by: REX USA/Steve Meddle/Rex