Richard Morant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image

Richard Morant (30 October 1945 – 9 November 2011) was an English actor.

Biography

Morant was born in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire.[1]Template:Circular reference His father was Shakespearean actor Philip Morant (1909–1993).[2][3][4] His sister is actress Angela Morant. He was also a nephew of actors Bill and Linden Travers, and a cousin of actress Penelope Wilton.[5] He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama before joining the Prospect Theatre Company, and touring with Ian McKellen in Richard II, Edward II and Twelfth Night.[6]

Morant had a long television and theatrical career, first as Flashman in a BBC adaptation of the Thomas Hughes novel, Tom Brown's Schooldays (1971), and a starring role in Thames Television's Armchair Theatre play Verité (1972) and a regular role as Dr Dwight Enys in the BBC series Poldark (1975).[7][8]

Morant also appeared in several BBC serials, including adaptations of Walter Scott's Woodstock (1973), as the future Charles II, and The Talisman (1980), as Conrade of Montserrat.[7]

He played Maximilien Robespierre in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), and the titular character in the second series of the children's programme Captain Zep - Space Detective. He later played Mervyn Bunter, the valet of Lord Peter Wimsey, in A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery, the BBC's 1987 productions of Strong Poison, Have His Carcase and Gaudy Night (all based on Dorothy Sayers's original novels).[9][10] In 1988 he played Theodore Dyke Acland in the serial Jack the Ripper.[11]

His film roles included Zeppelin (1971), Mahler (1974), The Company of Wolves (1984), The Second Victory (1986), Scandal (1989) and Janice Beard (1999).[12]

His stage appearances included a starring role in Noël Coward's Private Lives at the Theatre Royal, Bath in 1984.[13] The following year he co-starred with Stephanie Beacham and Pam Ferris in ITV's rag-trade soap drama, Connie.[14] He also did voice-over, radio, and audio book work including voicing books by Julian Barnes and Julian Fellowes.[15]

Personal life

Morant's first wife was Melissa Fairbanks, a daughter of Douglas Fairbanks Jr., with whom he had a son and daughter. His second wife was Valerie Buchanan, with whom he had another son and daughter.[4]

He had a sideline as a dealer in Asian carpets and textiles, including running his own gallery in Notting Hill.[6] In 2005 he became the sole owner of an established company specialising in carpets and fine textiles,[16] headquartered in Notting Hill, London. After suffering a short illness, Morant died suddenly of an aneurysm[7] on 9 November 2011, aged 66.[17]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1969 Battle of Britain Replacement Pilot - Red Section 'Red 2' Uncredited
1971 Zeppelin Billy Chisholm Uncredited
1974 Mahler Max
1974 The Protectors - Episode The Bridge David Mitchell TV series
1975 Hijack! Colin
1975 Poldark Dr Dwight Enys TV movie
1977 The Hunchback of Notre Dame Phoebus TV movie
1980 The Merchant of Venice Lorenzo TV movie
1982 The Scarlet Pimpernel Maximilien Robespierre
1983 On the Third Day Jeremy Bolt
1984 The Company of Wolves Wealthy Groom
1985 The Last Place on Earth Lawrence Oates
1987 The Second Victory Capt. Johnson
1989 Scandal D'Lazlo
1999 Janice Beard Boss
2006 Day Night Day Night Flirt Final film role

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Authority control

  1. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (subscription required)
  16. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".