The actor Sir John Gielgud has left most of his £1.5m fortune to charity, it was announced last night. The renowned stage and screen star died in May at the age of 96.

In his will he made specific cash legacies to friends and charities such as Rada, the Actors' Charitable Trust and the King George V Fund for Actors and Actresses.

He also left the Theatre Museum in London a number of personal items, including a snuffbox which once belonged to the Victorian actor Charles Kean. To the National Portrait Gallery he left a pair of portraits of actors, including his great aunt, Ellen Terry.

But the bulk of the estate is to be given to charitable causes chosen at his executors' discretion.

Solicitor Ian Bradshaw, of the firm Goodman Derrick, one of the executors of his will, said: "Although the executors had been given discretion as to the distribution of Sir John's estate, during his lifetime he made it known to them the charities he wished to benefit under the will. The executors will give these wishes proper consideration."

The executors will also dispose of his papers and archives.

Shortly after his death it emerged that Sir John had made secret payments to Stonewall, the campaign group for homosexual rights, but insisted that his support remained secret because he did not want to encourage speculation about his private life.

He made several donations to the organisation to help with campaigns to lower the age of consent for homosexuals and for the abolition of Section 28.

The Oscar-winning actor continued his support right up until his death in May, but told Sir Ian McKellen - the actor and founder-member of Stonewall - that his contributions should not be made public.