Nigel Green

Nigel Green
Born	Nigel McGown Green (1924-10-15)15 October 1924 Pretoria, South Africa
Died	15 May 1972(1972-05-15) (aged 47) Brighton, Sussex, England
Years active	1952–1972
Spouse(s)	Patricia Marmont (m. 1952; div.?) Pamela Gordon (?–1972; his death) (1 child)
Children	1

Nigel McGown Green (15 October 1924 – 15 May 1972) was an English character actor. Because of his strapping build, commanding height (6 ft 4 in or 1.93 m) and regimental demeanour he would often be found playing military types and men of action in such classic 1960s films as Jason and the Argonauts, Zulu, Tobruk and The Ipcress File.

Early life and stage career

Nigel Green was born in

Subsequent West End appearances included Come Live With Me (directed by Roy Rich: Vaudeville Theatre, June 1951),^[5] Heloise (directed by Michael Powell: Duke of York's Theatre, November 1951),^[6] Vernon Sylvaine's As Long as They're Happy, opposite Jack Buchanan (directed by Roy Rich: Garrick Theatre, July 1953),^[7] Félicien Marceau's The Egg (directed by Charles Frank: Saville Theatre, October 1957))^[8] and Agatha Christie's Go Back for Murder (directed by Hubert Gregg: Duchess Theatre, March 1960).^[9]

In his second volume of autobiography, Michael Powell pointed out that, though the play they collaborated on was a failure, "Nigel Green, with his great face and towering figure, would soon make a name for himself in movies. Who could ever forget him in Zulu? He was an almost mythical figure, like Harry Andrews and Victor McLaglen, and later John Wayne, all of them genuine and generous artists. Among other men they were like Norse gods, mythical, large and gentle, suddenly exploding into rage and performing fabulous feats of strength."^[10]

Screen career

Early film roles included Reach for the Sky (1956), The Criminal (1960), The League of Gentlemen (1960) and Beat Girl (1960).^[11] His large physique led to his being cast as Little John in the film Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960).

He had one of his most memorable roles as

Green also appeared in a number of horror films, including Corridors of Blood (1958), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), The Skull (1965), Let's Kill Uncle (1966) and Countess Dracula (1971).^[16] His penultimate role was as McKyle the 'Electric Messiah', a mental patient believing himself to be God, in The Ruling Class (1972).^[17]

His television appearances included

Green's first wife was the actress Patricia Marmont. His second wife was the actress Pamela Gordon, with whom he had one daughter.

Death

Green died following an overdose of sleeping pills in 1972, aged 47.^[3] It is unknown if his death was intentional. Peter O'Toole said on his commentary on The Ruling Class that he believed Green was very depressed and that his death shortly after filming ended was a suicide, although Green's family believed it to be accidental. He was separated from Gordon at the time.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

• List of unsolved deaths

References