Denholm Elliott
Denholm Elliott Royal Academy of Dramatic Art | |
---|---|
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1949–1992 |
Spouses | |
Children | 2 |
Denholm Mitchell Elliott
The American film critic
Early life
Elliott was born 31 May 1922, in
Elliott attended
In the
Career
After making his film debut in
Elliott made many television appearances, which included plays by Dennis Potter such as Follow the Yellow Brick Road (1972), Brimstone and Treacle, (1976) and Blade on the Feather (1980). He starred in the BBC's adaptation of Charles Dickens's short story The Signalman (1976). He also co-starred in the made-for-TV film The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring Jack Palance, produced by Dan Curtis, music composed and conducted by Bob Cobert (Curtis and Cobert were also, at that time, working on the famed Gothic horror soap opera Dark Shadows (1966–1971).
In the 1980s he won three consecutive
Having filmed Michael Winner's The Wicked Lady (1983), Elliott was quoted in a BBC Radio interview as saying that Marc Sinden and he "are the only two British actors I am aware of who have ever worked with Winner more than once, and it certainly wasn't for love. But curiously, I never, ever saw any of the same crew twice." (Elliott in You Must Be Joking! (1965) and The Wicked Lady and Sinden in The Wicked Lady and Decadence). Elliott had worked with Sinden's father, Sir Donald Sinden, in the film The Cruel Sea (1953).[13] He co-starred with Katharine Hepburn and Harold Gould in the television film Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry (1986) and with Nicole Kidman in Bangkok Hilton (1989).
In 1988 Elliott was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to acting. His career included many stage performances, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and a well-acclaimed turn as the twin brothers in Jean Anouilh's Ring Round the Moon. His scene-stealing abilities led Gabriel Byrne, his co-star in Defence of the Realm, to say, "Never act with children, dogs, or Denholm Elliott."[14]
Despite being described by the British Film Institute's Screenonline as an actor of "versatile understanding and immaculate technique,"[1] Elliott described himself as an instinctive actor and was a critic of Stanislavski's system of acting, saying, "I mistrust and am rather bored with actors who are of the Stanislavski school who think about detail."[15]
Personal life and death
Secretly
Elliott was diagnosed with
His widow set up a charity, the Denholm Elliott Project, and collaborated on his biography.[19] She worked closely with the UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS. Susan Elliott died on 12 April 2007, aged 65, in a fire in her flat in London.[16]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1949 | Dear Mr. Prohack | Oswald Morfrey | ||
1952 | The Sound Barrier | Christopher Ridgefield | Breaking the Sound Barrier in USA | [14] |
The Holly and the Ivy | Michael Gregory | |||
The Ringer | John Lemley | |||
1953 | The Cruel Sea | Morell | [14] | |
The Heart of the Matter | Wilson | [14] | ||
1954 | Lease of Life | Martin Blake | [14] | |
They Who Dare | Sgt. Corcoran | [17] | ||
1955 | The Man Who Loved Redheads | Denis | [14] | |
The Night My Number Came Up | Mackenzie | |||
1956 | Pacific Destiny | Arthur Grimble | [14] | |
1960 | Scent of Mystery | Oliver Larker | ||
1963 | Station Six-Sahara | Macey | ||
1964 | Nothing But the Best |
Charlie Prince | [14] | |
1965 | The High Bright Sun | Baker | ||
King Rat | Larkin | [14] | ||
1966 | Alfie | The Abortionist | [14] | |
1967 | Maroc 7 | Inspector Barrada | ||
1968 | The Night They Raided Minsky's | Vance Fowler | [14] | |
The Sea Gull | Dorn, a doctor | [14] | ||
1970 | Too Late the Hero | Captain Hornsby | [16] | |
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer | Peter Niss | |||
1971 | Percy | Emmanuel Whitbread | ||
The House That Dripped Blood | Charles Hillyer | Segment 1: Method for Murder | ||
Quest for Love |
Tom Lewis | |||
1972 | Madame Sin | Malcolm De Vere | ||
1973 | The Vault of Horror | Diltant | Segment 5: Drawn and Quartered | |
A Doll's House | Krogstad | [14] | ||
1974 | The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz | Friar | [14] | |
1975 | Russian Roulette | Commander Petapiece | ||
1976 | Robin and Marian | Will Scarlet | ||
To the Devil a Daughter | Henry Beddows | |||
Partners | John Grey | |||
Voyage of the Damned | Admiral Canaris | |||
1977 | A Bridge Too Far | R.A.F. Met. Officer | ||
1978 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Stapleton | ||
Watership Down | Cowslip | (voice) | ||
The Boys From Brazil | Sidney Beynon | |||
Sweeney 2 | Det. Chief Super. Jupp | |||
1979 | Zulu Dawn | Colonel Pulleine | ||
Saint Jack | William Leigh | |||
Cuba | Donald Skinner | |||
1980 | Bad Timing | Stefan Vognic | ||
Rising Damp | Charles Seymour | |||
Sunday Lovers | Parker | Segment: An Englishman's Home | ||
1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | Dr. Marcus Brody | [14] | |
1982 | Brimstone and Treacle | Mr. Tom Bates | ||
1983 | The Wicked Lady | Sir Ralph Skelton | ||
Trading Places | Coleman | |||
1984 | The Razor's Edge | Elliott Templeton | [20] | |
A Private Function | Dr. Charles Swaby | [17] | ||
1985 | A Room with a View | Mr Emerson | [14] | |
Underworld | Dr. Savary | |||
1986 | Defence of the Realm | Vernon Bayliss | [17] | |
The Whoopee Boys | Col. Phelps | |||
1987 | September | Howard | ||
Maurice | Dr. Barry | |||
1988 | Stealing Heaven | Fulbert | ||
1989 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | Dr. Marcus Brody | [14] | |
1989 | Killing Dad | Nathy | ||
1991 | Toy Soldiers | Headmaster | ||
Scorchers |
Howler | |||
1992 | Noises Off | Selsdon Mowbray | Final film role | [14] |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1958 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Jack Lyons | Season 3 Episode 34: "The Crocodile Case" |
1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | John Manbridge | Season 4 Episode 21: "Relative Value" |
1963 | Hancock | Peter Dartford | 1 episode |
1965 | Danger Man | Basil Jordan | Season 3 Episode 18: The Hunting Party
|
1966 | The Man in Room 17 | Defraits | 13 episodes |
Mystery and Imagination | Roderick Usher | Episode: The Fall of the House of Usher | |
1968 | The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | George Devlin | TV film |
1968 | Mystery and Imagination | Count Dracula | Episode: Dracula |
1972 | The Persuaders! | Roland | Episode: A Death in the Family |
Follow the Yellow Brick Road | Jack Black | TV play | |
1975 | Thriller | Dr. Frank Henson | Episode: The Crazy Kill |
1976 | Brimstone and Treacle | Mr. Tom Bates | TV play: Play for Today |
Clayhanger | Tertius Ingpen | 9 episodes | |
The Signalman | The Signalman | TV play | |
1977 | Ripping Yarns | Mr Gregory | Episode: Across The Andes by Frog |
1980 | Hammer House of Horror | Norman Shenley | Episode: Rude Awakening |
1980 | Blade on the Feather | Jack Hill | TV film |
1980 | Tales of the Unexpected | Harold | TV Series, Season 3 ep 7, 'The Stinker' |
1982 | Marco Polo
|
Niccolò Polo | 8 episodes |
1983 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Dr. Mortimer | TV film |
1984 | Camille | Count de Noilly | TV film |
1985 | Bleak House | John Jarndyce | 7 episodes |
1986 | Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry | George Parker | TV film |
1987 | Hotel du Lac | Phillip Neville | TV film |
Scoop | Mr. Salter | TV film | |
A Child's Christmas in Wales | Old Geraint | TV film | |
The Happy Valley | Sir Henry 'Jock' Delves Broughton | TV film | |
1988 | Codename: Kyril | Povin | 4 episodes |
The Ray Bradbury Theater | Tom Cotter | Episode: The Coffin | |
The Bourne Identity | Dr Geoffrey Washburn | TV mini-series | |
Noble House | Alastair Struan | 4 episodes | |
1989 | Bangkok Hilton | Hal Stanton | 3 episodes |
1990 | A Green Journey | James O'Hannon | TV film |
1991 | A Murder of Quality | George Smiley | TV film |
One Against the Wind | Father LeBlanc | TV film | |
The Black Candle | William Filmore | TV film |
Stage
Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1946 | The Guinea Pig | West End debut | [21] | |
1950 | Venus Observed | Edgar | [22] | |
1950 | Ring Round the Moon | Frederic, Hugo | Broadway debut | [23] |
1951 | The Green Bay Tree | Julian | [24] | |
1951 | A Sleep of Prisoners | [25] | ||
1953 | The Confidential Clerk | [26] | ||
1957 | Monique | Fernand Ravinel | [27][28] | |
1958 | Traveller Without Luggage | [29] | ||
1960 | The Merchant of Venice | Bassanio | [30] | |
1960 | The Two Gentlemen of Verona | Valentine | [31] | |
1960 | Troilus and Cressida | Troilus | [32] | |
1961 | Write Me a Murder | The Hon. Clive Rodingham | [33] | |
1964 | The Seagull | Trigorin | [34] | |
1964 | The Crucible | Reverend John Hale | [35] | |
1967 | The Imaginary Invalid | Dr. Diaforus | [36] | |
1967 | A Touch of the Poet | Cornelius Melody | [37] | |
1967 | Tonight at 8.30 | Alec Harvey | [38] | |
1970 | Come As You Are | [39] | ||
1975 | The Return of A. J. Raffles | A. J. Raffles | [40] | |
1977 | The New York Idea
|
[41] | ||
1977 | Three Sisters | [42] | ||
1989 | A Life in the Theatre | Robert | [43] |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nomination | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Room with a View |
Nominated |
1973 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Doll's House | Nominated |
1979 | Saint Jack | Nominated | ||
1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | Nominated | ||
1983 | Trading Places | Won | ||
1984 | A Private Function | Won | ||
1985 | Defence of the Realm | Won | ||
1986 | A Room with a View | Nominated | ||
1984 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Blade on the Feather BBC2 Playhouse Tales of the Unexpected |
Nominated |
1986 | Best Actor | Screen Two | Nominated |
See also
- List of British actors
- List of people from Kensington
- List of RADA alumni
Notes
- ^ to this day, a still-unbeaten record.
References
- ^ a b "British Film Institute Biography". Retrieved 24 September 2007.
- ISBN 978-0740771798.
- ^ Lambert, Bruce (7 October 1992). "Denholm Elliott, Actor, 70, Dies; A Star Among Supporting Players". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/51023. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ "Obituary Neil Elliott". Daily Telegraph. 14 April 2003. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "RADA Student & graduate profiles: Denholm Elliott". rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ BBC Radio. Desert Island Discs, 14 September 1974.
- ^ "Encyclopædia Britannica". Retrieved 24 September 2007.
- ^ Record for Halifax DT508, LostAircraft.com
- ISBN 978-0-7509-1819-0.
- ISBN 978-1-909166-32-5.
- ^ "Giraudoux Play On Television 'The Apollo Of Bellac'", The Times, 13 August 1955.
- ^ Woods, Judith (8 February 2011). "Michael Winner: 'The Life I've Lived, the Girls I've Had... Ht's Been Incredible'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Obituary: Denholm Elliott". The Independent. 7 October 1992.
- ^ Oliver, Myrna (7 October 1992). "Denholm Elliott; Veteran Character Actor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Susan Elliott obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 24 April 2007. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Denholm Elliott dies from AIDS-related TB, aged 70". The Independent. 7 October 1992.
- ^ "Oscar nominee Elliott dies of AIDS problems". Variety. 7 October 1992.
- ^ Elliott, Susan; Turner, Barry (1994). Denholm Elliott: Quest for Love.
- ISBN 9781526111975. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ "Denholm Elliott". Britannica Kids. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-8108-9308-5.
- ^ "Ring Round the Moon (Broadway, Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 1950)". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "The Green Bay Tree – Broadway Play – 1951 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Actors Leonard White, Denholm Elliott and Stanley Baker during..." Getty Images. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Elliott, Denholm (1922–1992) Biography". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Monique (Broadway, John Golden Theatre, 1957)". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Image of TRAVELLER WITHOUT LUGGAGE, Elizabeth Sellars, Denholm Elliott, The Arts Theater". www.bridgemanimages.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Search | RSC Performances | MER196004 – The Merchant of Venice | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Search | RSC Performances | TWO196004 – The Two Gentlemen of Verona | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Troilus and Cressida timeline | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Write Me a Murder – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "The Seagull – Broadway Play – 1964 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "The Crucible – Broadway Play – 1964 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "The Imaginary Invalid – Broadway Play – 1967 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "A Touch of the Poet – Broadway Play – 1967 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Tonight at 8:30 – Broadway Play – 1967 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Theater: 'Come as You Are,' Comic Report on Sex". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Search | RSC Performances | RET197512 – The Return of A J Raffles | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "BAM Archive". levyarchive.bam.org. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Billington On A Life In The Theatre". The Guardian. 2 November 1989. p. 30. Retrieved 17 September 2023.