Sir Alan Bates | |
|---|---|
 Bates in 1975 | |
| Born | Alan Arthur Bates 17 February 1934 |
| Died | 27 December 2003 (aged 69) London, England |
| Education | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1956–2003 |
| Spouse |
Victoria Ward
(m. 1970; died 1992) |
| Children | 2, including Benedick |
Sir Alan Arthur Bates CBE (17 February 1934 – 27 December 2003) was an English actor who came to prominence in the 1960s, when he appeared in films ranging from Whistle Down the Wind to the "kitchen sink" drama A Kind of Loving.
He is also known for his performance with Anthony Quinn in Zorba the Greek, as well as his roles in King of Hearts, Georgy Girl, Far From the Madding Crowd and The Fixer, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. In 1969, he starred in the Ken Russell film Women in Love with Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson.
Bates went on to star in The Go-Between, An Unmarried Woman, Nijinsky and in The Rose with Bette Midler, as well as many television dramas, including The Mayor of Casterbridge, Harold Pinter's The Collection, A Voyage Round My Father, An Englishman Abroad (as Guy Burgess) and Pack of Lies. He also appeared on the stage, notably in the plays of Simon Gray, such as Butley and Otherwise Engaged.