British actors died in 2011
Here are 22 famous actors from United Kingdom died in 2011:
Ken Russell
Ken Russell (July 3, 1927 Southampton-November 27, 2011 London) a.k.a. Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell, Alf Russell, Alfred Russell, Kenneth Russell, The English Federico Fellini, "Fellini of the North" or Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was a British film director, screenwriter, actor, film producer, photographer, dancer, television producer, television director, writer, cinematographer and film editor. His children are called Rex Russell, Alex 'Alien' Russell, Xavier Russell, James Russell, Toby Russell, Molly Russell, Rupert Russell and Victoria Russell.
Ken Russell is best known for his provocative and controversial films, which often explored themes of sexuality and religion. Some of his most notable works include "Women in Love" (1969), which won an Academy Award for Best Actress; "The Devils" (1971), which was heavily censored and banned in several countries; and "Tommy" (1975), a rock opera based on the album by The Who.
Russell began his career as a freelance photographer, before moving into television production and direction in the 1950s. He directed several documentaries for the BBC before making his feature film debut with "French Dressing" in 1964.
In addition to his work in film, Russell was also an accomplished musician and wrote several books. He continued to work in the industry until his death in 2011, at the age of 84.
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Gilbert Adair
Gilbert Adair (December 29, 1944 Kilmarnock-December 8, 2011 London) a.k.a. Heurtebise was a British journalist, author, film critic, novelist, poet, screenwriter and actor.
He began his career as a film critic and book reviewer for The Scotsman and later became a freelance writer for various newspapers and magazines. Adair's literary works range from poetry to novels, with his most notable works being Love and Death on Long Island and The Holy Innocents, which was later adapted into the film The Dreamers by Bernardo Bertolucci. In addition to writing, Adair appeared in a few films, including The House of Mirth and The Belly of an Architect. He also wrote the screenplays for films like The Death of the Author and A Closed Book. Adair was also a polyglot and translated numerous works from French to English, including works by George Perec, Raymond Queneau, and François Truffaut.
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Don Sharp
Don Sharp (April 19, 1921 Hobart-December 14, 2011 Cornwall) also known as Donald Herman "Don" Sharp, Donald Herman Sharp or Donald Sharp was a British film director, writer, film producer, television director, screenwriter and actor. He had four children, Jonny Dollar, Katherine Sharp, Andrew Sharp and Matthew Sharp.
During his career, Sharp directed over 40 films and wrote screenplays for numerous others. Some of his notable directorial works include "The Kiss of the Vampire," "Rasputin, the Mad Monk," and "Psychomania." He also worked extensively in television, directing episodes of popular TV shows such as "The Avengers," "The Saint," and "Man in a Suitcase." Sharp began his career as an actor before transitioning into directing and writing. His last film as a director was "Dark Places" in 1973.
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Roy Skelton
Roy Skelton (July 20, 1931 Nottingham-June 8, 2011 Brighton) also known as Roy William Skelton was a British actor and voice actor. He had two children, Sam Skelton and Eliza Skelton.
Skelton was best known for his voice work on popular TV shows in the UK, especially his role as one of the lead voice actors on the long-running children's show "Doctor Who." He provided the voices for several of the nemeses on the show, including the Daleks, Cybermen, and the Krotons. Skelton also served as a scriptwriter and director for "Doctor Who" during his career.
In addition to his work on "Doctor Who," Skelton had a prolific career as a voice actor, providing the voices for various characters in other popular shows such as "Rainbow" and "Captain Pugwash." He was also a regular contributor to BBC radio, lending his voice to various comedy and drama programs.
Outside of his voice work, Skelton was a talented artist and had several successful exhibitions of his artwork throughout his career. He also wrote and illustrated children's books, including "The Comic Adventures of Marmaduke Mouse" and "The Amazing Adventures of Freddie Whitemouse." Skelton was a beloved figure in the UK entertainment industry and is remembered fondly for his contributions to children's television and his distinctive voice work.
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Terence Longdon
Terence Longdon (May 14, 1922 Newark-on-Trent-April 23, 2011 Oxford) otherwise known as Terence Longden, Terence Langdon or Hubert Tuelly Longdon was a British actor.
He began his career as a stage actor before transitioning to film and television in the 1950s. Longdon appeared in several films including "The Long Arm" (1956) and "Carry On Nurse" (1959) as well as television shows such as "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1957-1958) and "The Avengers" (1961-1962). He was also a regular on the BBC radio program "The Navy Lark" (1959-1977). Despite being a recognizable face in British entertainment, Longdon preferred to keep a low profile in his personal life. He was married twice, had two children, and passed away in 2011 at the age of 88.
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Alan Haines
Alan Haines (June 6, 1924 Weston-super-Mare-April 17, 2011 Charing Cross Hospital) was a British actor and playwright.
He was best known for his roles in British television series such as "Doctor Who" and "The Avengers". Haines began his acting career in the 1950s and also wrote several plays which were well received by audiences and critics alike. Later in his career, he became a respected theatre director, working with renowned actors and actresses such as Laurence Olivier and Judi Dench. Despite his success, Haines remained humble and dedicated to his craft until his passing in 2011.
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Richard Pearson
Richard Pearson (August 1, 1918 Monmouth-August 2, 2011 Northwood, London) also known as Richard de Pearsall Pearson was a British actor, soldier and voice actor. He had one child, Patrick Pearson.
Pearson began his acting career in the 1940s with various theatre productions, including The Happiest Days of Your Life and The Shop at Sly Corner. He later transitioned onto television and film, appearing in popular shows such as Doctor Who and Inspector Morse. In addition to his acting work, Pearson served in the British Army during World War II and was a prisoner of war in Italy for two years. He also lent his voice to several animated TV shows and films, including Watership Down and The Lord of the Rings. Pearson was married to actress Sheila Burrell for over 50 years until her death in 2011, just a few months before his own passing.
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Huw Ceredig
Huw Ceredig (June 22, 1942 Brynamman-August 16, 2011 Bridgend) also known as Huw Cerredig or Huw Ceredig Jones was a British actor.
Huw Ceredig was a prominent Welsh actor who worked in both Welsh and English language productions. He began his acting career as a stage actor in the early 1960s before moving to television and films. He acted in several popular Welsh television series including "Pobol y Cwm" , a soap opera set in a fictional village in Wales where he played the character of Reg Harries for over a decade. His film credits include "Solomon and Gaenor" for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the BAFTA Cymru Awards. Ceredig was also a talented musician who played the guitar and sang in a folk group called Hogia'r Wyddfa. He was a passionate supporter of the Welsh language and culture and was involved in numerous Welsh language organizations. Ceredig passed away in 2011 at the age of 69.
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Pete Postlethwaite
Pete Postlethwaite (February 7, 1946 Warrington-January 2, 2011 Shrewsbury) also known as Peter William Postlethwaite, Peter Postlethwaite, Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite, Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite, OBE, Pete, Pete Postlethwaite, OBE or Peter William Postlethwaite, OBE was a British actor, teacher and voice actor. He had two children, William John Postlethwaite and Lily Kathleen Postlethwaite.
Postlethwaite was born in Warrington, England, and he trained as a teacher at St. Mary's College in Twickenham. He began his acting career in the early 1970s, performing with various theater companies and eventually working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He made his film debut in 1981 in "The Duellists" and went on to appear in over 70 films, including "In the Name of the Father," "The Usual Suspects," and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park."
In addition to his acting work, Postlethwaite was also known for his social and environmental activism. He was a prominent supporter of various causes, including the campaign to close the Sellafield nuclear plant, and he was a member of the board of trustees for the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theater company.
Postlethwaite was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003 for his services to drama. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 64 after battling cancer.
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Simon Brint
Simon Brint (September 26, 1950 High Ham-May 29, 2011) otherwise known as Brint, Simon, Simon Tracey Brint or Raw Sex was a British film score composer, musician and actor.
Throughout his career, Simon Brint was known for his work as part of the musical group Raw Sex as well as his collaborations with other artists in the music industry. He was also an accomplished TV and film score composer, producing music for popular British shows such as "Absolutely Fabulous," "French and Saunders," and "The Vicar of Dibley." Alongside his music work, Brint also had a successful acting career, appearing in various TV shows and films including "The Young Ones," "Red Dwarf," and "Blackadder." He passed away in 2011 at the age of 60.
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Michael Gough
Michael Gough (November 23, 1916 Kuala Lumpur-March 17, 2011 London) also known as Francis Michael Gough was a British actor, character actor and voice actor. He had four children, Simon Gough, Emma Frances Gough, Jasper Gough and Polly Gough.
Gough's acting career spanned over five decades and he is best known for his roles as Alfred Pennyworth in the Batman film series, and as the voice of the villain, Dr. Robotnik, in the Sonic the Hedgehog animated series. He also appeared in numerous stage productions, including several with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Gough began his acting career in the 1930s and his first major film role was in the 1948 movie Blanche Fury. Throughout his career, he appeared in over 150 movies and TV shows, including several popular British TV shows such as Doctor Who and The Avengers.
In addition to his acting work, Gough was also a talented writer and composer. He wrote several plays and musicals and was a respected member of the British theatre community.
Gough was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1989 for his services to drama. He continued to work in films and on stage until his death in 2011, at the age of 94.
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Badi Uzzaman
Badi Uzzaman (March 8, 1939 Phulpur-June 14, 2011 Lahore) also known as Mohammed Badi Uzzaman Azmi, Badi Uzzman, Badi Uzzamann or BadiUzzaman was a British actor and presenter.
He was born in India and moved to Pakistan during the partition. He later moved to the UK in 1959 and studied economics before pursuing his passion for acting. Uzzaman appeared in over 50 films and television shows, including several popular British dramas such as Doctor Who, The Bill and EastEnders. He was known for his versatile acting skills and ability to seamlessly adapt to different roles. In addition to his acting career, Uzzaman was also a well-respected broadcaster and presented several radio and television shows, including the BBC Asian Network. He passed away in Lahore, Pakistan in 2011 at the age of 72.
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Nicholas Courtney
Nicholas Courtney (December 16, 1929 Cairo-February 22, 2011 London) a.k.a. William Nicholas Stone Courtney was a British actor. He had two children, Bella Courtney and Philip Courtney.
Courtney was best known for his iconic portrayal of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart in the popular British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He played the character on and off for over 40 years, appearing in both the classic and revived series. In addition to his work on Doctor Who, Courtney also appeared in a number of other British television programs, including The Avengers and The Bill. He also had a successful stage career, appearing in productions of Shakespeare's plays and other classic works. Prior to his acting career, Courtney served in the British Army and was stationed in Egypt during the Suez Crisis. He was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration for his service. Courtney passed away in 2011 at the age of 81.
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John Boswall
John Boswall (May 2, 1920 Oxfordshire-June 6, 2011 South Woodchester) also known as John Stuart was a British actor.
He appeared in over 70 films and TV shows throughout his career, including notable roles in the films "The Dam Busters" (1955), "The Curse of the Werewolf" (1961), and "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1968). Boswall also had a successful stage career, appearing in numerous productions in London's West End. He was known for his versatility as an actor, often playing characters that were very different from one another. Whether he was playing a serious dramatic role or a lighter comedic one, Boswall's performances were always highly praised by audiences and critics alike. In addition to his work as an actor, Boswall was also an accomplished painter and writer, publishing several books on his experiences in the entertainment industry.
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Michael Langham
Michael Langham (August 22, 1919 Bridgwater-January 15, 2011 Cranbrook) otherwise known as Michael Seymour Langham was a British actor, television director, film director and theatre director. He had one child, Chris Langham.
Langham is best known for his work as a theatre director, particularly his time as the artistic director of the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. He held this position from 1956 to 1967, during which time he directed many of Shakespeare's plays, as well as other classics such as Molière's Tartuffe and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. He also directed operas for the festival.
Aside from his work in theatre, Langham also directed films and television shows. His film directorial debut was with the 1969 movie "David Copperfield", and he later directed episodes of popular television shows such as "The Twilight Zone" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour".
Throughout his career, Langham received numerous awards for his contributions to the performing arts, including the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. He is remembered as a respected and influential figure in the world of theatre.
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Nicol Williamson
Nicol Williamson (September 14, 1936 Hamilton-December 16, 2011 Amsterdam) a.k.a. Nicoll Williamson or Williamson was a British actor. He had one child, Luke Williamson.
Nicol Williamson gained recognition for his performances in Shakespearean productions, particularly for his role as Hamlet in Tony Richardson's film adaptation. He also played notable roles such as Sherlock Holmes, Merlin, and Macbeth in various films and television series. Apart from acting, Williamson was also a talented musician and played guitar and sang in several productions. He had a reputation for being a difficult actor to work with due to his perfectionist approach to acting and clashes with directors and co-stars. Despite this, he remained a respected figure in the acting community and his performances continue to be remembered as some of the most powerful of his era.
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Edward Hardwicke
Edward Hardwicke (August 7, 1932 London-May 16, 2011 Chichester) also known as Edward Hardwick or Edward Cedric Hardwicke was a British actor and military officer. His children are called Kate Hardwicke, Emma Hardwicke and Claire Hardwicke.
Edward Hardwicke was born into an acting family, with his father Sir Cedric Hardwicke and mother Helena Pickard both working in the entertainment industry. He began his acting career in the 1950s, but took a break to serve in the Royal Air Force. He later returned to his acting career, and is perhaps best known for playing Dr. John Watson alongside Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes in the TV series "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes". Hardwicke also had notable roles in films such as "Oliver Twist" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel". In addition to his acting career, he had a passion for sailing and was a skilled sailor. Hardwicke passed away in 2011 at the age of 78.
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Jonathan Cecil
Jonathan Cecil (February 22, 1939 London-September 22, 2011 Charing Cross Hospital) also known as Jonathan Hugh Gascoyne-Cecil or Jonathan Hugh was a British actor.
He was the son of Lord David Cecil, a literary critic, and Lady Rachel Cecil, a noted gardening expert. Cecil trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and began his acting career in the 1960s with appearances on stage, television, and film. He was a regular performer with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and his film credits include "A Clockwork Orange" (1971), "Barry Lyndon" (1975), and "Gandhi" (1982). Cecil was also a prolific voice actor, lending his distinctive voice to many audiobooks, radio dramas, and animated TV shows such as "Danger Mouse" and "The Wind in the Willows".
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Alfred Burke
Alfred Burke (February 28, 1918 Peckham-February 16, 2011 Barnes, London) otherwise known as Frank Hanna was a British actor. He had four children, Louisa Burke, Harriet Burke, Kelly Burke and Jacob Burke.
Alfred Burke was best known for his role as Frank Marker in the British television series "Public Eye," which aired from 1965 to 1975. He also had a successful stage career, and appeared in productions such as "The Caretaker" and "Long Day's Journey into Night." In addition to his acting work, Burke was a passionate campaigner for Amnesty International and was awarded the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. After his death in 2011 at the age of 92, his ashes were scattered on the stage of the National Theatre in London, where he had performed many times throughout his career.
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David Croft
David Croft (September 7, 1922 Sandbanks-September 27, 2011 Tavira) also known as David John Sharland, David John Andrew Sharland, Major David John Croft OBE, David Croft O.B.E., David Croft OBE or David John Croft was a British television producer, television director, screenwriter, composer, actor, film producer and film director. His children are called Penny Croft, Rebecca Croft, Nicholas Croft, Jane Croft, Timothy Croft, John Croft and Richard Croft.
Croft is best known for his work on popular British sitcoms such as Dad's Army, Are You Being Served?, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, and 'Allo 'Allo!. He often worked in collaboration with Jimmy Perry, with whom he created and wrote many of these shows. Croft also directed several episodes of these shows and composed the theme tunes for both Dad's Army and Are You Being Served?. In addition to his television work, Croft also produced and directed films such as the Dad's Army movie and the film version of Are You Being Served?. In recognition of his contributions to British television, Croft was awarded the OBE in 1978.
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John Wood
John Wood (July 5, 1930 Derbyshire-August 6, 2011 Gloucestershire) a.k.a. Tom Wood, John Woods or John Wood, CBE was a British actor.
He was one of the most beloved actors of his time and had a long and fruitful career in the entertainment industry. John Wood began his acting career in the 1950s and quickly rose to prominence, becoming known for his dynamic performances on stage and screen. He won many accolades for his work, including a Tony Award for his portrayal of the lead character in the play 'Travesties' and an Emmy nomination for his performance in the TV series 'War and Remembrance'.
Wood was also a writer and director, and he worked on several productions throughout his career. He was a co-founder of the famous Riverside Studios in London and served as its artistic director for many years. In addition to his acting work, he was a passionate advocate for the arts, serving as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.
Wood was awarded a CBE for his services to drama in 2007, shortly before his retirement. He was remembered by his colleagues and fans as a consummate actor and a warm, generous individual who was loved and respected by all who knew him.
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James Elliott
James Elliott (June 11, 1928 Glasgow-February 12, 2011 St Leonards) a.k.a. James Elliot or Elliot James was a British actor.
He began his career in the 1950s and appeared in numerous theatre productions, including plays by Harold Pinter and John Osborne. Elliott also had a successful career on television, with appearances on popular shows such as Doctor Who, The Bill, and Emmerdale. His film credits include The Spy Who Loved Me and The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission. In addition to acting, Elliott was a trained opera singer and performed in several productions throughout his career. Throughout his life, he remained active in the British theatre scene and was a well-respected figure in the industry.
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