Nigel Terry(1945-2015)
- Actor
British actor Nigel Terry primarily dedicated himself to the classical stage. When he extended himself into film and TV outings, it was mostly for
historical or period roles. Over the years, he grew quite
comfortable in both a pair of hose and a suit of armor.
Terry was born Peter Nigel Terry on August 15, 1945, in Bristol, England, to Doreen Beatrice (Such) and Frank Albert Terry, an RAF pilot. He trained with several
repertory companies, including the Oxford Meadow Players and Bristol
Old Vic, where some of his better-known works included "Volpone",
"Right You Are", "The Balcony", "Richard II" and "Two Gentlemen from
Verona". Over time, he appeared extensively with the Royal
Shakespearean Company, the Round House Theatre and the Royal Court
Theatre. Showing flashes of brilliance in his film debut as the
drooling, moronic and cowardly "Prince John" in
The Lion in Winter (1968),
Nigel held his own opposite a most intimidating cast that included
Peter O'Toole, Oscar-winner
Katharine Hepburn and
Anthony Hopkins (who also made
his film debut). Surprisingly, it did not lead to a torrent of film
roles.
In demand on the repertory stage, however, he continued with
sterling roles in "She Stoops to Conquer", "'Tis Pity She's a Whore",
"Queen Christina", "Look Out...Here Comes Trouble", "The Suicide" and
"A Month in the Country". Thirteen years later, Nigel finally returned
to the cinema, making a memorable comeback in
John Boorman's medieval epic
Excalibur (1981) as "King Arthur", who
grew from a humbling, bumbling squire to a noble and rather melancholy
ruler throughout the course of the film. This feat, in turn, ignited
more on-camera work. Nigel earned kudos playing the title role in
Derek Jarman's
Caravaggio (1986) and, subsequently,
turned in other interestingly off-kilter characters for Jarman in
The Last of England (1987),
War Requiem (1989),
Edward II (1991) and
Blue (1993), an association that ended
with Jarman's AIDS-related death in 1994.
Nigel also became a familiar
face on British TV. He was probably best-known in America for starring
in the US/British series
Covington Cross (1992), in
which he played "Sir Thomas Gray", a medieval knight. In addition, he
created fascinating character portraits in the plush TV costumers
The Mushroom Picker (1993),
Far from the Madding Crowd (1998)
and
Crime & Punishment (2002). In the 2000s, Nigel also appeared in the films
The Emperor's New Clothes (2001),
Feardotcom (2002) and the
Brad Pitt epic
Troy (2004).
Nigel Terry died on 30 April, 2015.
historical or period roles. Over the years, he grew quite
comfortable in both a pair of hose and a suit of armor.
Terry was born Peter Nigel Terry on August 15, 1945, in Bristol, England, to Doreen Beatrice (Such) and Frank Albert Terry, an RAF pilot. He trained with several
repertory companies, including the Oxford Meadow Players and Bristol
Old Vic, where some of his better-known works included "Volpone",
"Right You Are", "The Balcony", "Richard II" and "Two Gentlemen from
Verona". Over time, he appeared extensively with the Royal
Shakespearean Company, the Round House Theatre and the Royal Court
Theatre. Showing flashes of brilliance in his film debut as the
drooling, moronic and cowardly "Prince John" in
The Lion in Winter (1968),
Nigel held his own opposite a most intimidating cast that included
Peter O'Toole, Oscar-winner
Katharine Hepburn and
Anthony Hopkins (who also made
his film debut). Surprisingly, it did not lead to a torrent of film
roles.
In demand on the repertory stage, however, he continued with
sterling roles in "She Stoops to Conquer", "'Tis Pity She's a Whore",
"Queen Christina", "Look Out...Here Comes Trouble", "The Suicide" and
"A Month in the Country". Thirteen years later, Nigel finally returned
to the cinema, making a memorable comeback in
John Boorman's medieval epic
Excalibur (1981) as "King Arthur", who
grew from a humbling, bumbling squire to a noble and rather melancholy
ruler throughout the course of the film. This feat, in turn, ignited
more on-camera work. Nigel earned kudos playing the title role in
Derek Jarman's
Caravaggio (1986) and, subsequently,
turned in other interestingly off-kilter characters for Jarman in
The Last of England (1987),
War Requiem (1989),
Edward II (1991) and
Blue (1993), an association that ended
with Jarman's AIDS-related death in 1994.
Nigel also became a familiar
face on British TV. He was probably best-known in America for starring
in the US/British series
Covington Cross (1992), in
which he played "Sir Thomas Gray", a medieval knight. In addition, he
created fascinating character portraits in the plush TV costumers
The Mushroom Picker (1993),
Far from the Madding Crowd (1998)
and
Crime & Punishment (2002). In the 2000s, Nigel also appeared in the films
The Emperor's New Clothes (2001),
Feardotcom (2002) and the
Brad Pitt epic
Troy (2004).
Nigel Terry died on 30 April, 2015.