Vale: Keith Michell
Veteran Australian actor, who had a career on stage and screen, has died aged 89.
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Veteran Australian actor Keith Michell, who had a long career on stage and screen, has died, aged 89.
He died at his home in London, on Friday.
Michell was best known for his stage career, serving as artistic director of the Chichester Festival Theatre in a post once occupied by Laurence Olivier.
Born in Adelaide, Michell came to Britain in 1949 and soon became a member of the Young Vic Theatre Company. Years performing on London stages followed.
He made his reputation in the 1960s and 70s in classical roles, and probably played the part of King Henry VIII more than any other performer.
His film credits include Dangerous Exile, The Hell Fire Club, Seven Seas to Calais, The Executioner and Henry VIII and his Six Wives.
BBC miniseries The Six Wives of Henry VIII devoted an episode to each of the monarch’s six consorts. In 1996, he played Henry VIII again, in a television film, The Prince and the Pauper.
Other credits included Murder She Wrote, Captain James Cook, My Brother Tom, Julius Caesar and The Story of David.
Source: The Guardian, Hollywood Reporter
4 Responses
Keith was a great actor though very much underrated R.I.P Keith
My fascination with Henry VIII started thanks to this actor. And I will always remember seeing him on stage at Her Magesty’s Theatre in the 80s starring in the musical of la Cage Aux Folles – he was brilliant. RIP
Aw I really liked Keith in My Brother Tom, I might have to watch it again.
This photo brings back such powerful memories of those British period dramas which made such an impression upon me in my youth. I Claudius and The Six Wives of Henry VIII captured my imagination about those periods of world history. Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Keith Michell – such larger than life personas on screen. What a great career Keith had on the world stage. I recall him returning to Oz in 1987 to film the Bicentennial drama on James Cook.