George Segal joins Art

George Segal was nominated for an Oscar in 1967

American actor George Segal is to join the cast of the long-running play Art, at Wyndham's Theatre in central London.

Segal will make his West End debut when he joins Paul Freeman and Richard Griffiths - who have both previously appeared in Art - as part of the 19th cast change for the popular play.

There have been 19 cast changes in Art in London

He follows actors such as Albert Finney, Sir Tom Courtenay and Patrick Duffy, who have also appeared in Art.

The three men will replace Charles Lawson and James Gaddas, both from Coronation Street, and former Spandau Ballet member, Gary Kemp.

Sorely tested

Art, written by Yasmina Reza, traces the relationship between three men whose friendship is sorely tested when one of them buys a piece of contemporary art.

Originally, performed in French, the rights to the production in the UK were secured by Sean Connery when he and his wife saw the production.

The play has been successfully staged in New York, on Broadway, where it also features regular cast changes.

George Segal is best known as a movie actor and was nominated for an Oscar in 1967 for his performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

More recently, he has featured in the US sitcom, Just Shoot Me.