Alec Clunes
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Alec Clunes
(1912–70) British actor, director, and manager. Best known for running the Arts Theatre in London from 1942to1952 and for performing alongside stars such as Olivier, Gielgud, and Scofield, he began his professional acting career with Ben Greet's company in 1934. Subsequently he acted with major companies of his time, including Tyrone Guthrie's Old Vic season in 1936–7 (which premièred Olivier's Hamlet), the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in 1954 (as Claudius to Scofield's Hamlet), and finally at the National Theatre in Hochhuth's controversial Soldiers in 1968. His influential Arts Theatre seasons introduced new playwrights and staged forgotten classics.
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Alec Clunes
| Alec Clunes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 May 1912 Brixton, London, UK. |
| Died | 13 March 1970 (aged 57) London, England, UK. |
| Occupation | Actor and director |
Alexander "Alec" Sheriff de Moro Clunes (17 May 1912 - 13 March 1970) was an English actor and stage manager.
Among the plays he presented were Christopher Fry's famous play The Lady's Not For Burning. He gave the actor and dramatist Sir Peter Ustinov his first break with his production The House of Regrets. His film career was brief, but varied. He played Hastings in Laurence Olivier's Richard III (1956), and also appeared in wartime films such as One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), although he was in fact a conscientious objector. He also appeared in The Adventures of Quentin Durward (1955). Clunes's later stage work included succeeding Sir Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins in the stage musical My Fair Lady in 1959. His final stage appearance was in 1968.
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Personal life
Born as Alexander Sheriff de Moro Clunes[1] to a show business family, he was the son of Alexander Sydenham Sherriff Clunes (1881–1960) and Georgina Ada Sumner (1882–1969). He began his stage career with Ben Greet's company, before playing at the Old Vic theatre. He played numerous Shakespearian roles, before taking over the management of the Arts Theatre, London in 1942, where he remained until 1950.
He was twice married: to actress Stella Richman, later a television producer, and Daphne Gyllian Acott (married 1956-13 March 1970) with whom he had one son.
He died from lung cancer in 1970, aged 57. He left a widow and a son, actor Martin Clunes, and a daughter, Amanda Clunes.
Notable TV guest appearances
- Undermind playing "Police Sergeant" in episode: "Onset of Fear" (episode # 1.1) 24 April 1968
- The Ronnie Barker Playhouse playing "Peregrine" in episode: "The Incredible Mister Tanner" (episode # 1.4) 24 April 1968
Clunes played Governor Woodes Rogers, the lead in the first three episodes of The Buccaneers in 1956. He was also offered the lead part of Professor Bernard Quatermass in the famous BBC science-fiction serial Quatermass and the Pit in 1958, but declined the role (André Morell was cast instead).[2]
Selected filmography
- Melba (1953)
- Tiger in the Smoke (1956)
- Tomorrow at Ten (1964)
- Sailors Three (1940)
References
- ^ Births England and Wales 1837-1983
- ^ Murray, Andy (2006) (paperback). Into the Unknown: The Fantastic Life of Nigel Kneale. London: Headpress. p. 67. ISBN 1-900486-50-4.
External links
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