Alan Bates

Grief-stricken following the death of their son Tristan, Alan's wife, the actress and model Victoria Ward, died from a suspected heart attack, following a wasting disease similar to anorexia, in 1992.
Had twin sons, Benedick Bates and Tristan. In 1990, Tristan died of an asthma attack in Tokyo. Two years later, his wife, Victoria Ward, also passed away.
Eldest of three brothers from an artistic family: his two brothers are artists, his father was a fine cellist, and his mother a pianist who had studied in Paris. His father supported the family by working in the insurance business.
Handpicked by director John Schlesinger to star in the film Un dimanche comme les autres (1971) in the role of Dr. Daniel Hirsh. Even though he wanted the part very much, Bates was held up filming Le messager (1971) for director Joseph Losey and also became a father around that time, so he had to pass on the project, with regrets. The part then went first to Ian Bannen who balked and was fired and then to Peter Finch, who earned an Academy Award nomination.
Suffered a stroke in 2003.

Of course, you start with dreams of being a star. You want recognition, public recognition. And why not? You're doing public work.
I think all plays should be filmed. I think we should forget about this division of cinema and theatre. I think any sort of great production should be filmed, just for the future if for nothing else.
[1973 comment on Anthony Quinn] At his best, he's a marvelous actor and he's a very instinctive actor. He has a sort of animal quality, although I think he's got a bit stuck with it. He's a larger than life character. He's that without trying before he starts. He's not the easiest man to work with by any means. He's quite temperamental.
I consider Peter Finch and James Mason the two best English actors of the 1960s. But I never understood Finch. How could he do something as beautiful as Un dimanche comme les autres (1971), but also make all that other shit? I mean he could read, couldn't he?
I think actors are privileged. Acting feeds you.