John Neville (actor)

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

John Neville
CM, OBE
Neville as Hamlet in a 1959 TV production of the same name
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
FamilyJoe Dinicol (grandson)

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 renown 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 5 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.

Early life and education[edit]

John Neville was born on 2 May 1925 in the north London suburb of Willesden, London, the son of Mabel Lillian (née Fry) and Reginald Daniel Neville, a lorry driver.[4] He was educated at Willesden and Chiswick County School for Boys[5]. His early employment included working as a stores clerk in a local garage.

When interviewed by Richard Ouzounian later in life, Neville recalled that whilst at school he helped to establish a youth drama club, but in order to do so, he had to join it with another club. It turned out to be a boxing club. At the age of 17 he won a drama competition.

He had been taken to the Old Vic and Stratford upon Avon by Aubrey Dawson who was the churchwarden at, Saint Michael and All Angels Stonebridge, the local parish church where Neville sang in the choir. He was taken along with Dawson’s 5 nieces, one of which included future historian Lorna Arnold, who recalled that “in time he became one of our extended family”.[6] It was at these trips to the theatre that Neville’s passion for acting and Shakespeare in particular began to develop. As a result, he decided that we wished to become an actor. However, with little money his parents were unable to pay for such a venture. The local council was contacted and informed Neville that they would provide him with a scholarship grant on the obvious proviso that he got in. After a successful audition, Neville gained his place at the prestigious drama school, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

However, shortly afterwards he was enlisted to serve as a signalman in the Royal Navy during World War II, where he stayed for 3 years. It was only upon being demobbed and being able to claim his Ex-Serviceman’s Grant and still being able to live at home in London that he was able to begin studying at RADA and train as an actor.

Prior to his starting his professional career as a member of the Trent Players.[7]

One of Neville’s’ first job upon leaving drama school, was in the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. He made his London debut with a walk-on role in Richard II at the New Theatre in 1947.

After working in repertory in Lowestoft in 1948, soon moved to the prestigious Birmingham Repertory Company under the pioneering leadership of Sir Barry Jackson, where he stayed from 1949 to 1950. Neville spent three seasons with the Bristol Old Vic, where he won acclaim for playing Marlow in She Stoops to Conquer, the Duke in Measure for Measure, the title role in Henry V and PC Tom Blenkinsop in the actor's first stage musical, Christmas in King Street.

Career[edit]

The Old Vic[edit]

Neville and Claire Bloom in Romeo and Juliet (1957)

Soon after he arrived in 1953, Neville had established himself as a matinee idol and a West End star of the 1950s, hailed as "one of the most potent classical actors of the Richard Burton–Peter O'Toole generation".[8] Over the next 6 years, he became a leading member of London's Old Vic Company, where he played many classical leading roles, performing in nothing but Shakespeare, parts including Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (a role he repeated on American television for the anthology series Producers' Showcase), and an acclaimed Richard in Richard II, with Virginia McKenna as Queen Anne. He also alternated with Richard Burton the parts of Othello and Iago in Othello.[9] He received good reviews in the musical adaptation of Lolita, called Lolita, My Love, which closed in Boston.

A young Gielgud (L) whom Neville was often compared to vocally and physically

Known for his classical good looks and mellifluous voice, the young Neville was regularly described as the young John Gielgud's natural successor, this was a comparison Neville later revealed he hated to Gielgud's biographer Jonathan Croall.[10]

For a while, he took over the leading role of Nestor Le Fripé from Keith Michell in the original West End production of the musical Irma La Douce, with Elizabeth Seal as Irma. He returned to the London stage for a brief period in 1963, playing the title role in Alfie by Bill Naughton, but by then his theatrical commitment lay outside London.[7]

Nottingham Playhouse[edit]

In 1961, his weekly pay declining from £200 to £50, he joined the Nottingham Playhouse, becoming joint artistic director with Frank Dunlop and Peter Ustinov when the current Playhouse opened in 1963.[7] It became one of Britain's leading regional repertory theatres.[8] Though Dunlop and Ustinov soon left, Neville remained at the theatre until 1967, when he resigned over funding disputes with the local authority and the Arts Council.[7][9][11]

Neville starred as the Duke of Marlborough in the BBC2 serial The First Churchills (1969), a major television role which also maintained his international profile when the show was broadcast as the very first Masterpiece Theatre series in the United States in 1971.[12][13][14]

Move to Canada[edit]

With his family, he left Britain for Canada in 1972, becoming a citizen there.[15] He devoted his later career to the Canadian theatre. He took up the post of artistic director at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta (1973–78), and later took similar positions with the Neptune Theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia (1978–83) and other Canadian theatre companies, including as artistic director of the Stratford Festival of Canada from 1985 to 1989, while continuing his acting career.[11] On top of his artistic decisions, Neville helped eliminate the Neptune's deficit with canny promotions, such as giving free tickets to the local taxi drivers and their families, correctly anticipating that recipients would enthusiastically discuss the theatre with passengers and tourists.[16]

Director Terry Gilliam cast him as the lead in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). In the film, Neville plays the character at three different stages of his life; in his 30s, his 50s and his 70s. From 1995 to 1998, Neville had a prominent recurring role in The X-Files television series as The Well Manicured Man, and in 1998, he reprised the role in the feature film The X-Files. Although he made numerous other television appearances and occasional film roles, the main focus of Neville's career was always on the theatre.

In his later years, Neville had numerous cameo appearances in films, including primate of the Anglican Church in Australia in The Man Who Sued God and an admiral in the Earth Space Navy in The Fifth Element. He had a small role as Terrence in David Cronenberg's Spider (2002). Around the same time, he appeared with Vanessa Redgrave in the film adaptation of Crime and Punishment (also 2002).

In 2003, Neville performed a stage reading of John Milton's Samson Agonistes, with Claire Bloom at Bryn Mawr College at the behest of poet Karl Kirchwey.[17] He appeared in an episode of the soap opera Train 48 (2005) as the grandfather of Zach Eisler, who was played by his grandson Joe Dinicol.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2006.[18]

Death[edit]

According to publicists at Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Neville died "peacefully surrounded by family" on 19 November 2011, aged 86.[19] Neville suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his later years.[11] He was survived by his wife Caroline (née Hooper) and their six children.[20]

Select filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Actor John Neville dies at 86". CBC News. The Canadian Press. 21 November 2011.
  2. ^ https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1633023/dame-judi-dench-hamlet-john-neville-love-age-husband-film-bond-news-latest-update
  3. ^ Michael Coveney Obituary: John Neville, The Guardian, 21 November 2011
  4. ^ "Neville profile at Film Reference.com". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  5. ^ "John Neville obituary". the Guardian. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  6. ^ Arnold, Lorna (2011). My Short Century. Cumnor Hill Books. p. 28. ISBN 9780983702900.
  7. ^ a b c d Hayward, Anthony "John Neville: Shakespearean actor and director who became a theatrical force in Canada ", The Independent, 26 November 2011
  8. ^ a b Jeremy Lewis, "A Real Class Act", Nottingham Post, 5 March 1999
  9. ^ a b "Obituaries: John Neville". The Daily Telegraph. London. 21 November 2011.
  10. ^ Croall, Jonathan (2014). In Search of Gielgud: A Biographer's Tale. Herbert Adler. p. 73. ISBN 9781842890226.
  11. ^ a b c Coveney, Michael (21 November 2011). "John Neville Obituary". The Guardian.
  12. ^ McMillan, Nancy Pomerene (21 September 1980). "A 10th Birthday for Masterpiece Theatre of John Neville and Susan Hampshire in 'The First Churchills'". The New York Times. p. 35.
  13. ^ King, Susan (13 January 1991). "British exports now a staple on U.S. TV". Austin American-Statesman. p. 37.
  14. ^ King, Susan (8 October 1995). "'Buccaneers' Kicks Off 'Masterpiece' Anniversary". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 11. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016.
  15. ^ Nestruck, J. Kelly (23 November 2011). "John Neville was at home on the stage and on screens large and small". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  16. ^ O'Reilly, Terry (20 April 2013). "Loss Leaders: How Companies Profit By Losing Money". Under the Influence. CBC Radio One. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  17. ^ Heller, Karen (1 May 2003). "Bryn Mawr shows creative side as it makes way for arts". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  18. ^ "Governor General to Invest 41 Recipients into the Order of Canada" (Press release). Governor General of Canada. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Actor John Neville dies at 86". Variety. Associated Press. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  20. ^ "John Neville obituary". the Guardian. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2022.

External links[edit]

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