Brian Bedford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brian Bedford
|
|
|---|---|
Bedford in 2011
|
|
| Born | 16 February 1935 Morley, West Yorkshire, England
|
| Died | 13 January 2016 (aged 80) |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1955–2015 |
| Spouse(s) |
Tim MacDonald
(m. 2013) |
Brian Bedford (born 16 February 1935 – died 13 January 2016) was a talented English actor. He performed in many films and plays. He was also a director for plays by Shakespeare. Brian Bedford was nominated for seven Tony Awards for his amazing work in theater.
You might know his voice from the 1973 animated Disney movie Robin Hood, where he played the main character, Robin Hood.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Brian Bedford was born in Morley, West Yorkshire, England, on 16 February 1935. His mother was Ellen O'Donnell, and his father, Arthur Bedford, was a postman. Brian went to St Bede's Grammar School in Bradford. He left school when he was 15 years old.
From 1952 to 1955, he studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. He was in the same class as other famous actors like Albert Finney, Alan Bates, and Peter O'Toole.
Acting Career Highlights
Brian Bedford was mostly known for his work on stage. He was great at performing plays by the French writer Molière. He was nominated for Tony Awards for his roles in Molière's plays like Tartuffe, The Molière Comedies, and The School for Wives. He even won a Tony Award for his role in The School for Wives!
He also performed in many Shakespeare plays. Some of his famous Shakespeare roles included Ariel in The Tempest and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. He often performed at the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada, where he played characters like Richard III in Richard III. He also acted in Shakespeare in the Park shows in New York City.
Besides theater, Brian Bedford appeared in films and on TV. He was in the 1966 film Grand Prix with James Garner. In 1967, he was a regular on the TV series Coronet Blue. As mentioned, he voiced Robin Hood in the 1973 Disney animated movie. This film was a big inspiration for the creators of the movie Zootopia.
Later, he appeared in popular TV shows like Cheers in 1988 and its spin-off, Frasier, in 2000.
In 1997, Brian Bedford was honored by being added to the American Theater Hall of Fame. He also won other awards, including the Obie Award, the Outer Circle Critics Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the L.A. Drama Critics Award.
In 2009, he played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival in Canada. He repeated this role in New York in 2010, where he also directed the play. This role earned him another Tony Award nomination in 2011.
Personal Life and Passing
Brian Bedford lived in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, and Santa Barbara, California, in the U.S. He shared his homes with fellow actor Tim MacDonald. They were married in 2013.
Brian Bedford passed away from cancer on 13 January 2016, in Santa Barbara, California. He was 80 years old.
Awards and Nominations
Brian Bedford received many awards and nominations throughout his career:
Tony Awards
- 1971 Best Leading Actor in Play – The School for Wives (Winner)
- 1992 Best Leading Actor in Play – Two Shakespearean Actors (Nominee)
- 1994 Best Leading Actor in Play – Timon of Athens (Nominee)
- 1995 Best Leading Actor in Play – The Molière Comedies (Nominee)
- 1997 Best Leading Actor in Play – London Assurance (Nominee)
- 2003 Best Leading Actor in Play – Tartuffe (Nominee)
- 2011 Best Leading Actor in Play – The Importance of Being Earnest (Nominee)
Drama Desk Awards
- 1969 Outstanding Performance – The Misanthrope (Winner)
- 1970 Outstanding Performance – Private Lives (Winner)
- 1971 Outstanding Performance – The School for Wives (Winner)
- 1974 Outstanding Performance – Jumpers (Winner)
- 1992 Outstanding Actor in a Play – Two Shakespearean Actors (Winner)
- 1994 Outstanding Actor in a Play – Timon of Athens (Nominee)
- 2011 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play – The Importance of Being Earnest (Winner)
Obie Awards
- 1965 Outstanding Performance – The Knack (Winner)
