THE GRIM(?) REAPER ON FILM AND TV!
Death is considered to be one of the two most perpetual things in existence (the other being taxes), but everyone has a different idea of what Death looks like, depending on what culture you're from. TV and Film are no different, and what follows is a list (in no actual order) of the different portrayals and portrayers of Death on TV and on film.
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- StarsJim HowickSimon FarnabyMathew BayntonA group of British comedians show the sides of history they don't teach you in school. From the 'Savage Stone Age' to the 'Troublesome 20th Century', you see the full side to history.Simon Farnaby plays The Grim Reaper in the "Stupid Deaths" sequences in which the prerequisite for moving on to the Afterlife is to have your death be as stupid and ridiculous as possible so that Death gets a good laugh. Not only is his costume and make-up first rate, but he plays Death with such good humor!
- DirectorMitchell LeisenStarsFredric MarchEvelyn VenableGuy StandingThe Grim Reaper takes the form of a Prince in an attempt to relate to humans and, along the way, also learns what it is to love.Fredric March in both shadow and substance was one of the best Deaths I've ever seen!
- DirectorRobert ButlerStarsYvette MimieuxMonte MarkhamMelvyn DouglasDeath takes a human form and visits Earth to try to find out why humans want so desperately to cling to life. He unexpectedly falls in love with a beautiful young woman.Monte Markham was a very interesting Death in this TV-movie remake of the 1934 film; well worth watching (I refer to both film and actor).
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsMax von SydowGunnar BjörnstrandBengt EkerotA knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.Bengt Ekerot as a chess-playing Death is one of the best I've ever seen (and he didn't even NEED the traditional skull-face!).
- DirectorMartin BrestStarsBrad PittAnthony HopkinsClaire ForlaniDeath, who takes the form of a young man killed in an accident, asks a media mogul to act as his guide to teach him about life on Earth and, in the process, he falls in love with the mogul's daughter.Brad Pitt was handsome enough as Death, but this remake and his performance didn't really do it for me.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsWoody AllenDiane KeatonGeorges AdetIn czarist Russia, a neurotic soldier and his distant cousin formulate a plot to assassinate Napoleon.Norman Rose played (but did not get screen credit for) playing Death in this classic Woody Allan comedy ... and he sure can dance!
- CreatorMaxwell AtomsStarsGreg EaglesRichard Steven HorvitzGrey GriffinThe ill-tempered Grim Reaper gets into a wager that forces him to become the life-long companions of two scheming youngsters after he loses.Greg Eagles does the voice of Grim (aka The Grim Reaper) who lost a bet with Billy and Mandy and now has to be their friend/servant/slave/etc. I like the voice he does for Grim.
- CreatorLorne MichaelsStarsThe Saturday Night Live BandDon PardoDarrell HammondActors, comedians and artists get together to perform short, hilarious skits on current, intelligent and at times ridiculous topics.Christopher Lee played Death in a 1978 episode. Not only does he have the height and voice for it, but even without make-up he proved why he is one of the greatest actors of the twentieth century!
- DirectorTerry JonesStarsJohn CleeseTerry GilliamEric IdleThe comedy team takes a look at life in all of its stages in their own uniquely silly way.John Cleese plays one of the best traditional Deaths I've ever seen in the "Death" sequence.
- CreatorRod SerlingStarsRod SerlingRobert McCordJay OverholtsOrdinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.Murray Hamilton played a very bland Death in the episode "One For The Angels" (1959), Robert Redford a very handsome (but not so interesting) Death in "Nothing in the Dark" (1962) and Leonard Strong as a chilling "Hitch-hiker" in the episode of the same name (1959).
- CreatorsBrad FalchukRyan MurphyHalley FeifferStarsLady GagaKathy BatesAngela BassettAn anthology series centering on different characters and locations, showcasing different aspects of horror.Frances Conroy played The Angel of Death in the second series "Asylum".
- CreatorJohn MasiusStarsRoma DowneyDella ReeseJohn DyeDispatched from Heaven, a group of angels help those in need.John Dye played Angel of Death Andrew throughout this rather good series, and he was one of the most sympathetic and nicest Deaths I've ever seen.
