John Neville (actor)

For other people with the same name, see John Neville (disambiguation).

John Neville
CM, OBE
Neville as Hamlet in a 1959 TV production of 'Hamlet'
Born
John Reginald Neville

(1925-05-02)2 May 1925
Willesden, London, England
Died19 November 2011(2011-11-19) (aged 86)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Canada
EducationChiswick County School for Boys
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation(s)Actor, Director
Years active1949–2006
Spouse
Caroline Hooper
​
(m. 1949)​
Children6

John Reginald Neville, CM OBE (2 May 1925 – 19 November 2011)[1] was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned more than sixty years, he was renowned for his roles on both stage and screen in genres ranging from classical theatre to fantasy and science fiction.

Neville was one of the young leading lights of the British theatre in the early 1950s, with he and contemporary and friend Richard Burton honing their crafts at The Old Vic, where over the course of five years they worked their way through the Shakespearean canon. Based on their performance styles and physicality, it was commented at the time that Burton was seen as the successor to Laurence Olivier, whereas Neville was seen as the natural successor to John Gielgud. Neville was a great champion of young talent throughout his career, as was evident when a 23 year old Judi Dench made her professional debut as Ophelia opposite his Hamlet in 1957.[2]

Alongside the classical repertoire, Neville also worked on contemporary productions. He originated the titular role of Alfie in Bill Naughton's 1963 play Alfie. It was in that same year that he, along with Frank Dunlop and Peter Ustinov, became artistic directors of the Nottingham Playhouse, with Neville later assuming sole charge.[3] It was under his leadership that he played the leading part in Coriolanus, directed by Tyrone Guthrie, playing opposite a young Ian McKellen in the role of Tullus Aufidius. After leaving Nottingham in 1972, Neville emigrated to Canada, where he enjoyed further theatrical success in Stratford, Ontario at the Stratford Festival Theatre.

He enjoyed a resurgence of international attention in the 1980s as a result of his starring role in Terry Gilliam's cult classic The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) and latterly in the hit sci-fi series The X-Files where he featured in the sinister role of The Well-Manicured Man.

  1. ^ "Actor John Neville dies at 86". CBC News. The Canadian Press. 21 November 2011.
  2. ^ McGreevy, Hannah (29 June 2022). "Dame Judi Dench says she fell in love with Hamlet co-star John Neville". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  3. ^ Michael Coveney Obituary: John Neville, The Guardian, 21 November 2011