The man who was Merlin has left this world.
John Osbourne once called him the greatest actor since Brando. He was the definitive Merlin, giving John Boorman's Excalibur its otherwordly impact. But now Nicol Williamson has died in poverty at the age of 73.
Starting out in theatre, Williamson had his breakthrough with Osbourne's famous play Inadmissable Evidence. He appeared in a screen version in 1968 and went on to star in a dozen more films, with a notable turn as Little John alongside Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn in Robert And Marian. He excelled as Hamlet and as...
John Osbourne once called him the greatest actor since Brando. He was the definitive Merlin, giving John Boorman's Excalibur its otherwordly impact. But now Nicol Williamson has died in poverty at the age of 73.
Starting out in theatre, Williamson had his breakthrough with Osbourne's famous play Inadmissable Evidence. He appeared in a screen version in 1968 and went on to star in a dozen more films, with a notable turn as Little John alongside Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn in Robert And Marian. He excelled as Hamlet and as...
- 1/25/2012
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Scottish actor Nicol Williamson has died aged 73, reports The Daily Telegraph. According to his son Luke, the stage and screen actor died of esophageal cancer on December 16. He was best known for his roles in Excalibur and The Exorcist III, as well as a long and much acclaimed stage career.Williamson was a star turn as Merlin in John Boorman's dark folk fantasy Excalibur, in which he was reluctantly cast alongside former lover Helen Mirren. Boorman's mischief-making paid off: the pair share the best scenes in the film, with Mirren's Morgana and Williamson's wizard playing wittily off against each other. Williamson and Mirren had worked together once before, although much less auspiciously, in a radical staging of Macbeth. The Hamilton-born actor made his name in John Osbourne's Inadmissible Evidence for which he received great acclaim and, later, a Tony award on Broadway. Osborne later described him as the greatest actor since Brando,...
- 1/25/2012
- EmpireOnline
A striking stage presence for more than 60 years and a familiar face on TV
Sheila Burrell, who has died aged 89 after a long illness, was a cousin of Laurence Olivier, and a similarly distinctive and fiery actor with a broad, open face, high cheekbones and expressive eyes. She stood at only 5ft 5ins but could fill the widest stage and hold the largest audience. Her voice was a mezzo marvel, kittenish or growling and, in later life, acquired the viscosity and vintage of an old ruby port, matured after years of experience.
In a career spanning more than 60 years, she made her name as a wild, red-headed Barbara Allen (subject of the famous ballad) in Peter Brook's 1949 production of Dark of the Moon (Ambassadors theatre), an American pot-boiler about the seduction of a lusty girl by a witch boy and the hysterical reaction of her local community.
The role remained one of her favourites,...
Sheila Burrell, who has died aged 89 after a long illness, was a cousin of Laurence Olivier, and a similarly distinctive and fiery actor with a broad, open face, high cheekbones and expressive eyes. She stood at only 5ft 5ins but could fill the widest stage and hold the largest audience. Her voice was a mezzo marvel, kittenish or growling and, in later life, acquired the viscosity and vintage of an old ruby port, matured after years of experience.
In a career spanning more than 60 years, she made her name as a wild, red-headed Barbara Allen (subject of the famous ballad) in Peter Brook's 1949 production of Dark of the Moon (Ambassadors theatre), an American pot-boiler about the seduction of a lusty girl by a witch boy and the hysterical reaction of her local community.
The role remained one of her favourites,...
- 7/27/2011
- by Michael Coveney
- The Guardian - Film News
Directors Mike Piscitelli and Mike Fleiss worked with the rocker's son, Jack Osbourne, to produce "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" over a period of three-and-a-half years, but co-producer Jordan Tappis admits they had to start from scratch 12 months into production, because they just weren't getting anywhere.
But Tappis reveals they soon learned how to handle the veteran star, born John Osbourne, and eventually managed to convince him to openly discuss his lifelong battle with drink and drugs, and how his addictions and increasing fame affected his family.
He tells WENN, "The first year (of filming) was pretty much a waste. It was about learning and understanding Ozzy... and we wanted to find out who John Osbourne was, so we spent a lot of time figuring out how to get to him so that he would reveal the truth behind who he really was."
"A little bit of prodding (was involved). It...
But Tappis reveals they soon learned how to handle the veteran star, born John Osbourne, and eventually managed to convince him to openly discuss his lifelong battle with drink and drugs, and how his addictions and increasing fame affected his family.
He tells WENN, "The first year (of filming) was pretty much a waste. It was about learning and understanding Ozzy... and we wanted to find out who John Osbourne was, so we spent a lot of time figuring out how to get to him so that he would reveal the truth behind who he really was."
"A little bit of prodding (was involved). It...
- 4/25/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.