Leon Greene

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Leon Greene
Greene in the trailer for The Devil Rides Out (1968)
Born
Lenard George Green

(1931-07-15)15 July 1931[1]
East Ham, Essex, England
(present-day London, England)
Died19 June 2021(2021-06-19) (aged 89)
United Kingdom
Occupations
Years active1965–2001

Lenard George Green (15 July 1931 – 19 June 2021), better known as Leon Greene, was an English

Miles Gloriosus in the original London production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which he reprised for the 1966 film version. He was also a cast member of three Carry On films, and for director Richard Lester
.

Early life

Born Lenard George Green in East Ham, Essex (now in London) in 1931, he was the son of Esther (née Ticquet) and Leonard Green, a crane driver at London docks. During World War II, the family moved to Southend-on-Sea, where he studied engineering at the town’s municipal college, singing in its operatic society.[2]

While doing national service with the Royal Air Force in Hornchurch, he took singing lessons with the Royal Opera House’s chorus master. His break came when he landed the role of an opera singer in a 1952 touring production of Das Dreimäderlhaus.[2]

Singing career

At the age of 20, Greene joined the

Sadler's Wells Opera
.

Among operatic roles were, at Sadler's Wells, one of the three Vagabonds in

Love for Three Oranges in 1963 (New Opera Company). He sang Lilaque le Fils in Boulevard Solitude in a New Opera Company production at Sadler's Wells in 1963.[3]

In 1958 he was listed as the Publicity Manager of the London Opera Group, a professional touring opera company directed by Peter Glossop,[4] also singing the title role in Don Pasquale.

Musical theatre

In 1963, he moved on to musical comedy, appearing in the

Miles Gloriosus. He then reprised the role for the musical's 1966 film adaptation
.

Greene's portrayal of

Old Vic in 1988–89.[7]

Beginning in the 1990s, he worked in pantomime, and worked with Lionel Blair to help introduce the genre to Canada.[2]

Film and television

With his imposing frame and deep voice, Greene had a successful secondary career as a

Carry On comedies. He was often cast by director Richard Lester, first in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. On television, he appeared in the 1967 The Avengers
episode "The Superlative Seven" as Freddy Richards.

Personal life

In 1953, Greene married Jean Percival, who was the long-time supervisor of the Royal Opera House’s headdress and jewellery department.[2][8]

Death

Greene died in June 2021 at the age of 89.[9]

Partial filmography

References

  1. ^ GRO Register of Births: SEP 1931 4a 355 WEST HAM – Lenard G. Green, mmn = Ticquet
  2. ^
    ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  3. ^ Lade, John. London Opera Diary - Boulevard Solitude - Sadler's Wells, 7 March. Opera, May 1963, Vol. 14 No. 5, p. 343.
  4. ^ Kennedy Melling, John. London Opera Group at Palace Theatre, Westcliff. Opera, May 1958 Vol. 9 No. 5, pp 332-33.
  5. ^ Milnes, Rodney. Opera in Britain - Sweeney Todd, Royal Opera at Covent Garden, 15 December. Opera, March 2004, Vol. 55 No. 3, pp 349-52.
  6. ^ Milnes, Rodney. At the Musical - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Chichester Festival Theatre, 13 August. Opera, October 1986, Vol. 37 No. 10, p. 1209.
  7. ^ Milnes, Rodney. At the Musical - Candide, Old Vic, 21 December. Opera, March 1989, Vol. 40 No. 3, pp 369-70.
  8. ^ "Obituary: Leon Greene – opera singer and actor". The Stage. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Leon Greene obituary". The Guardian. 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023.

External links

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