Maurice Evans (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maurice Evans
Evans in 1956
Born	Maurice Herbert Evans (1901-06-03)3 June 1901 Dorchester, Dorset, England
Died	12 March 1989(1989-03-12) (aged 87) Rottingdean, East Sussex, England
Occupation	Actor producer
Years active	1926–1983

Maurice Herbert Evans (born June 3, 1901 – died March 12, 1989) was a famous English actor. He was especially known for playing characters in Shakespeare's plays. You might remember him as Dr. Zaius from the movie Planet of the Apes or as Maurice, Samantha's dad, on the TV show Bewitched.

Early Life and First Roles

Maurice Evans was born in Dorchester, England. His father, Alfred Herbert Evans, was a chemist and also loved acting. He even adapted novels for a local acting group. Maurice first appeared on stage as a small boy in a play called Far from the Madding Crowd.

He started his professional acting career in 1926. His first major role was at the Cambridge Festival Theatre. In 1934, he joined the famous Old Vic Company. There, he played big Shakespearean roles like Hamlet, Richard II, and Iago.

A Star on Stage and Screen

In 1928, Maurice Evans was part of a play called Journey's End. This play was a huge success in London and made him famous. He played a young officer named Raleigh.

In 1934, he went to the Old Vic Theatre. His acting in Shakespeare's Richard II was highly praised. This led to an invitation to act in the United States. His first show on Broadway was Romeo and Juliet in 1936.

Shakespearean Roles

Evans became very well known for his Shakespearean roles. He played Hamlet in 1938 and Falstaff in Henry IV, Part 1 in 1939. He also starred in Macbeth (1941) and as Malvolio in Twelfth Night (1942). He often worked with famous actresses like Katharine Cornell and Helen Hayes.

Evans in Dial M for Murder for a 1958 TV show. Also pictured are John Williams and Rosemary Harris.

World War II and Beyond

When the United States joined World War II, Maurice Evans joined the United States Army. He was in charge of an entertainment group for soldiers in the Pacific. They put on many shows for the troops.

After the war, he brought his special "G.I. version" of Hamlet to Broadway. This version was shorter and made the play more exciting for soldiers. He became a Major by the end of the war.

Evans also starred in plays by George Bernard Shaw. In 1952, he was the main actor in the Broadway play Dial M for Murder. He also produced other successful Broadway shows.

Television and Film Appearances

Many people remember Maurice Evans from TV. In the 1960s, he played Maurice, Samantha's magical father, on the popular TV show Bewitched. He also appeared as The Puzzler on the Batman TV series in 1966.

On the big screen, Evans played important roles. He was the evil Dr. Zaius, an orangutan, in the 1968 film Planet of the Apes. He also appeared in its sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). Another famous film role was "Hutch" in the thriller Rosemary's Baby (1968).

Evans as Richard II

Bringing Shakespeare to TV

Maurice Evans was a pioneer in bringing Shakespeare to American television. Starting in 1953, he starred in many TV versions of Shakespeare's plays for the Hallmark Hall of Fame show. These were some of the first full-length plays shown on American TV.

He starred in:

• Hamlet
• Macbeth (twice, winning an Emmy Award for the 1960 production)
• Richard II
• Twelfth Night (as Malvolio)
• The Taming of the Shrew (as Petruchio)
• The Tempest (as Prospero)

Evans strongly believed that actors should "lead public taste," meaning they should introduce people to great art, not just play what's already popular.

Personal Life

Maurice Evans became a U.S. citizen in 1941. However, he moved back to Britain in the late 1960s. He lived a quiet life near Brighton. He never married.

Death

Maurice Evans passed away at the age of 87 in Rottingdean, East Sussex, England.

Selected Filmography

Selected Stage Credits

• Sea Fever (1931)
• Romeo and Juliet (1936)
• Richard II (1937)
• Hamlet (1938, 1945)
• Henry IV, Part 1 (1939)
• Macbeth (1941)
• Twelfth Night (1942)
• Man and Superman (1947)
• Dial M for Murder (1952)