Denis Quilley

Biography

Noted British classical theatre actor Denis Quilley distinguished himself on the Shakespearean stage alongside Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud, among others. His sturdy handsomeness was slightly offset by a relatively prominent proboscis. As in the case of Jeremy Northam and Liam Neeson, it only accentuated his looks and added to the uniqueness of his characters. Educated at Bancroft's School in Essex, he made his first appearance in 1945 with the Birmingham Repertory Company and replaced Richard Burton in "The Lady's Not for Burning" in his London debut in 1950. Following roles in "Twelfth Night" and "The Merchant of Venice," Quilley took a marked departure from his classical reputation and made a resounding hit for himself in musicals and satirical revues, notably "Airs on a Shoestring" (1953) and "Grab Me a Gondola."(1956). In the early 60s he took his London role in "Irma La Douce" to Broadway and met with great success. Over his nearly six-decade career, he would grace the Old Vic, Royal Shakespeare, Regent's Park and Drury Lane stages in a wide range of roles. Highlights have included his Lopakhim in "The Cherry Orchard" and Claudius in "Hamlet." In the 70s he joined Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company for its last seasons at the Old Vic. He played Jamie to Olivier's James Tyrone in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (also a TV version), Hildy Johnson in "The Front Page" and Caliban in "The Tempest" with John Gielgud. He continued impressively in musicals winning kudos for his "Sweeney Todd" and for "La Cage Aux Folles." He ended his career with "Anything Goes" in 2003, the year of his death. A less frequent but still familiar face on television (Masada (1981)) as well as in film intrigue (Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and Evil Under the Sun (1982)), the versatile Quilley was a gifted, cerebral player who could display strength as well as vulnerability and weakness.