January
2003 >>
Sir Alan Bates |
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| Sir
Alan Bates |
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The
recently knighted Sir Alan Bates has appeared in works by some of
the most respected writers of modern times. |
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Sir Alan
Bates was born in Allestree in 1934, and after leaving grammar school
earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA)
in London.
After spending two years in the Royal Air Force, Bates joined the
new English Stage Company and made his West End debut in 1956 at the
age of 22.
In the same year, he made a huge impact by appearing in John Osbourne's
famous play 'Look Back in Anger', a production that gave a name to
a generation of post-war 'angry young men'.
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SELECTED
FILMOGRAPHY
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1960
The Entertainer
1961 Whistle Down The Wind
1962 A Kind of Loving
1964 Zorba The Greek
1966 Georgy Girl
1967 Far From The Madding Crowd
1968 The Fixer
1969 Women In Love
1970 The Go-Between
1980 Nijinsky
1987 A Prayer For The Dying
1990 Hamlet
2001 Gosford Park |
The play
made Bates a star and set him on a path which would see him perform
in plays by the likes of Harold Pinter, Peter Schaffer and William
Shakespeare.
In 1960, Bates made his film debut in the acclaimed 'The Entertainer',
playing one of Laurence Olivier's sons.
Big roles were soon to follow including 'Whistle Down the Wind' in
1962, Zorba the Greek in 1964 and Georgy Girl in 1966.
He eventually appeared in more than 50 films and earned an Oscar nomination
for his role in 1968's The Fixer.
Yet perhaps his most famous moment came in 1969's Women In Love in
a role which involved him wrestling naked with Oliver Reed!
Sir Alan married actress in Victoria Ward in 1970 and their twin sons,
Benedick and Tristan were born in 1971.
| "I
just up and said I wanted to be an actor." |
| Alan
Bates |
Tragedy
came later though. Tristan died during an asthma attack in 1990 whilst
Victoria died in 1992.
Career wise, from 1970 onwards, Bates's involvement with the film
world diminished and he instead worked largely in stage productions
and television roles.
But in the last few years, Bates's ability has re-emerged on the big
screen with roles in Gosford Park, Sum of All Fears and Hamlet.
He was awarded a CBE in 1996 and became a 'Sir' in the New Year's
Honours 2003. |
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