Alan Bates facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Bates
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Bates in 1975
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| Born |
Alan Arthur Bates
17 February 1934 Allestree, Derby, England
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| Died | 27 December 2003 (aged 69) London, England
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| Education | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1956–2003 |
| Spouse(s) |
Victoria Ward
(m. 1970; died 1992) |
| Children | 2, including Benedick |
Sir Alan Arthur Bates (born February 17, 1934 – died December 27, 2003) was a famous English actor. He became well-known in the 1960s. He starred in many different kinds of movies. These included the children's story Whistle Down the Wind. He also acted in serious dramas like A Kind of Loving.
Alan Bates was also known for his role with Anthony Quinn in Zorba the Greek. He appeared in films such as King of Hearts and Georgy Girl. Other important roles were in Far From the Madding Crowd and The Fixer. For The Fixer, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. In 1969, he starred in Women in Love with Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson.
Later, Bates starred in The Go-Between and An Unmarried Woman. He also appeared in Nijinsky and The Rose with Bette Midler. He acted in many TV shows too, like The Mayor of Casterbridge. On stage, he was famous for plays by Simon Gray, including Butley.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alan Bates was born in Derby, England, on February 17, 1934. He was the oldest of three boys. His mother, Florence Mary, was a housewife and a pianist. His father, Harold Arthur Bates, was an insurance broker and a cellist. His parents loved music and encouraged him to play.
But by age 11, Alan decided he wanted to be an actor. He started studying drama instead. He often went to plays at Derby's Little Theatre to learn more.
Bates went to Herbert Strutt Grammar School in Belper. Later, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. There, he studied with future stars like Albert Finney and Peter O'Toole. After his studies, he joined the RAF for his National Service.
Acting Career Highlights
Alan Bates had a long and successful acting career. He worked in theatre, film, and television.
Early Stage Work
Bates first acted on stage in 1955 in a play called You and Your Wife. In 1956, he made his big debut in London's West End. He played Cliff in Look Back in Anger. This role made him a star. He also played this part on television and on Broadway in New York.
First Film Roles
Bates' first movie role was in The Entertainer (1960). He acted alongside the famous Laurence Olivier. His first main role in a film was in Whistle Down the Wind (1961). He then starred in A Kind of Loving (1962). Both movies were very popular. They helped make Alan Bates a well-known film star.
He also appeared in The Running Man (1963). This was a suspenseful film where he played an insurance investigator. He then acted in The Caretaker (1963) and Nothing But the Best (1964).
Becoming a Film Star
In 1964, Bates supported Anthony Quinn in Zorba the Greek. He also acted with James Mason in Georgy Girl (1966). He returned to TV for a bit before starring in King of Hearts (1966).
Bates worked again with director John Schlesinger in Far From the Madding Crowd (1967). He then starred in The Fixer (1968). This role earned him an Academy Award nomination.
In 1969, he starred in Women in Love, directed by Ken Russell. He followed this by appearing in the film Three Sisters (1970).
Bates was chosen for the main role in Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971). However, he was busy filming The Go-Between (1971) and had just become a father. So, he could not take the role.
He starred in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (1972). He also produced and appeared in a short film called Second Best (1972). He continued to act in films like Story of a Love Story (1973) and play adaptations like Butley (1974).
Later Career and Recognition
In the late 1970s, Bates starred in the TV mini-series The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978). He said his role as Michael Henchard was his favorite. He also appeared in international films like An Unmarried Woman (1978) and Nijinsky (1980). He played Bette Midler's manager in The Rose (1979).
In the 1980s, he played different roles. He was a spy in An Englishman Abroad (1983) and a British Secret Service agent in Pack of Lies (1987). In the 1990s, he played Claudius in Mel Gibson's Hamlet (1990).
In 2001, Bates joined a famous cast in Gosford Park. He played the butler, Jennings. His last role was Antonius Agrippa in the TV film Spartacus (2004). He passed away before the film was released. The movie was dedicated to him.
Alan Bates was honored for his work. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1996. He was also knighted in 2003, becoming Sir Alan Bates.
Personal Life
Alan Bates married actress Victoria Ward in 1970. They had twin sons, Benedick and Tristan, born in November 1970. Victoria passed away in 1992. Sadly, Tristan died in 1990 at the age of 19.
In his later years, Bates had a relationship with Welsh actress Angharad Rees.
Death
Alan Bates died in December 2003 from pancreatic cancer. He is buried in Derbyshire, England.
Tristan Bates Theatre
After his son Tristan passed away, Alan Bates and his family created the Tristan Bates Theatre. It is located at the Actors' Centre in Covent Garden, London. This theatre was made to honor Tristan's memory. Tristan's twin brother, Benedick, is a vice-director there.
Awards
- 1959 Clarence Derwent Award for A Long Day's Journey into Night
- 1971 Evening Standard Best Actor Award for Butley
- 1972 Best Actor Tony for Butley
- 1975 Variety Club Award for Otherwise Engaged
- 1983 Variety Club Award for A Patriot for Me
- 2000 Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award for Unexpected Man
- 2002 Best Actor Tony and Drama Desk, for Fortune's Fool
Images for kids
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Bates in 1975
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The blue plaque on Alan Bates' childhood home. In association with the British Film Institute
See also
In Spanish: Alan Bates para niños
