Hardcastle was born in Croydon, South London, in 1926.
He was in post from 1957 until the 1990s.
Hardcastle was also instrumental in the formation of the Museum of the Moving Image in London.
Leslie HardcastleBen A. Pruchnie/Getty Images
A man of many hats, he played a key role in the @BFI story.
Photo preserved by #BFINationalArchive.
Sad to hear of the death of Leslie Hardcastle.
A man of many hats, he played a key role in the@BFIstory.
Photo preserved by#BFINationalArchivepic.twitter.com/A75EyOBpeY
Away from cinema, Hardcastle was involved in numerous social organizations and societies.
