I can make two lines
seem like Hamlet
Denholm Elliott CBE
B: 31 May 1922
D: 6 October 1992 aged 70
|
|
Like so many fine actors, Denholm Elliott would come to enjoy the fruits of his theatrical
labour only in the latter part of his career. In his case, he was in his fifties when his
polished character portrayals saw him gain major acclaim as the quintessential
scene-stealer of stage and screen.
His film credits are numerous, with roles in such key works as ALFIE / 1966, the all-star
cast feature A BRIDGE TOO FAR / 1977 and THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL / 1978 alongside
James Mason, Sir Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck.
His film career however came to the fore in the eighties with appearances in a series of major
box-office hits as diverse as RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK / 1981 with Harrison Ford, THE
MISSIONARY / 1982 with Michael Palin, TRADING PLACES / 1983 with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy,
A ROOM WITH A VIEW / 1985 with a cast including the like of Helena Bonham Carter, Daniel
Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Julian Sands and Maggie Smith, MAURICE / 1987 with Hugh Grant,
Rupert Graves and James Wilby and INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE / 1989
reprising his role as Harrison Ford's bumbling colleague Dr Marcus Brody.
Yet his cinematic persona concealed the true nature of his bisexual lifestyle and one that only
came to public attention through his HIV positive status that cut short a thriving career
though health complications brought on by AIDS in October 1992.
His widow and second wife Susan subsequently set up the Denholm Elliott Project, a charity
devoted to reliving the suffering of people living with HIV and AIDS.
He remains forever fondly remembered for his craft of being able to upstage the performance
of the headline star, a gift that gave way to the reworked show business adage of
"never act with children, animals or Denholm Elliott."
|
