A star set decorator who befriended some of Hollywood’s greatest stars has lost his “treasure trove” of film memorabilia after a blaze ripped though his Budapest home. Mark Rimmell, 91, known for his work in David Suchet’s Poirot series, In the Name of the Father (1993) and Hellboy II (2008), moved from Hampstead in northwest London to Budapest back in 2005 after he fell in love with the Hungarian capital during the making of the film Eragon (2006).
The London-born expat bought an apartment in one of Budapest’s most exclusive areas, close to the Buda Castle Garden Bazaar, overlooking the River Danube. But shortly before midnight last Thursday, a fire swept through Mr Rimmell’s home, destroying his museum of antiques and claiming the life of his dog Anton.
Boudicca Scherazade, a close friend of Mr Rimmell, said he is currently staying with friends in Budapest while they search for temporary accommodation on his behalf. She told The Standard: “It’s traumatic to have something like this happen at the end of his life and this cannot be his last story.
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“We have to pull together to do something for him. It sounds like he’s in good spirits and he’s an incredible survivor.”. From handwritten letters by Elizabeth Taylor, to signed photographs, original scripts and film props, Mr Rimmell has collected an array of precious keepsakes over his 40-year career in the filmmaking industry.
According to his IMDB, Mr Rimmell worked as a set dresser for Kate Bush’s Cloudbusting music video and as a production buyer for the TV series Jeeves and Wooster starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. He was also nominated for an MTV Video Music Award (VMA) for Best Art Direction for his work on the iconic video Simple Minds: Don't You (Forget About Me).
Mr Rimmell has continued to use his creative talents following his retirement from film and has become known as the ‘Crown Maker of Budapest’. “The exact same thing happened to me in my home in 2008, so it was a calling to start the fundraiser for my friend,” Ms Scherazade added.
“The worst of the tragedy is that his little rescue dog died in the fire, it’s unthinkable. Anton was his main companion, they slept in bed together and went to cafes.”. The 55-year-old antiques dealer from London said Mr Rimmell was in receipt of a UK state pension, but has no other income.
Ms Scherazade stated that it remains unclear which specific items were lost in the fire. Twenty firefighters arrived at the scene and swiftly began working to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading beyond the apartment. However, despite their best efforts, the 100sqm apartment with a gallery was completely destroyed, local media reported.
Mr Rimmell suffered minor burns and was taken to hospital, but sadly lost his “greatest treasure” in the fire. Speaking after the fire, Mr Rimmell said: “My wounds are superficial but painful, I know the mental wounds will take longer”. “I will and am missing my greatest treasure. My faithful and ever loving and desperately needy Anton.”.
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