Nigel Terry facts for kids

Nigel Terry (born August 15, 1945 – died April 30, 2015) was an English actor. He was well-known for playing characters from history in movies, TV shows, and plays. You might know him as King Arthur from the movie Excalibur (1981) or as Prince John in The Lion in Winter (1968).

Nigel Terry's Early Life

Nigel Terry was born in Bristol, England, on August 15, 1945. His father was a pilot in the Royal Air Force. Nigel was the first baby born in Bristol after World War II ended.

His family later moved to Truro, Cornwall. There, his father worked as a probation officer. Nigel went to Truro School where he became very interested in acting. He was also good at drawing and painting.

Nigel's parents encouraged him to become an actor. He first worked in forestry and at a petrol station. Then, he joined the National Youth Theatre. In 1963, he studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He worked both on stage and behind the scenes.

Nigel Terry's Acting Career

Nigel Terry spent most of his career acting in plays. He also appeared in many films and television shows.

Theatre Work

After his training, Nigel Terry worked with several theatre groups. These included the Oxford Meadow Players and Bristol Old Vic. He performed in many plays with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also worked at the Round House Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.

Some of his important theatre roles include Daniel de Bosola in The Duchess of Malfi. He also played Pericles in Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Both of these plays were performed in 1989.

Film Roles

Nigel Terry acted in about 20 films. His most famous movie roles were often in historical dramas.

He played Prince John in The Lion in Winter (1968). In this film, he acted alongside famous stars like Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. He also played King Arthur in the fantasy film Excalibur (1981).

In 1986, he played the main character in Caravaggio. He worked with director Derek Jarman on several other films. These included "The Last of England" (1988) and "Blue" (1993). His last film role was in Troy (2004). In that movie, he played a high priest from the city of Troy.

Television Appearances

Nigel Terry also appeared in many television shows. One of his early TV roles was in the show Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) in 1970.

He was in Covington Cross, a series set in medieval times. He also appeared in medical dramas like Casualty. Fans of Doctor Who might remember him as General Cobb in the episode "The Doctor's Daughter". He also had roles in Highlander: The Series and Waking the Dead.

Nigel Terry's Personal Life

After living in London for 30 years, Nigel Terry moved back to Cornwall in 1993. He was a very private person.

Nigel Terry passed away in Newquay, Cornwall, on April 30, 2015. He died from a lung condition called emphysema. His friends, Maggie Steed and David Horovitch, organized a memorial service for him. It was held in Truro on May 19, 2015. Many fellow actors and friends attended to remember him.

Selected Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Nigel Terry para niños