Warren Clarke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Warren Clarke
Clarke in A Clockwork Orange
Born	Alan James Clarke (1947-04-26)26 April 1947 Oldham, Lancashire, England
Died	12 November 2014(2014-11-12) (aged 67) Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1964–2014
Spouse(s)	Gail Lever ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1976)​ Michelle Mordaunt ​ (m. 1987)​
Children	2

Warren Clarke (born Alan James Clarke) was an English actor. He was born on April 26, 1947, and passed away on November 12, 2014. Warren Clarke was famous for playing many different characters in movies and TV shows. One of his most well-known roles was Dim in the film A Clockwork Orange. He also starred as Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel in the popular TV series Dalziel and Pascoe.

Early Life and Name Change

Warren Clarke was born in Oldham, a town in Lancashire, England. His father made beautiful stained-glass windows, and his mother worked as a secretary.

He left school when he was 15 years old. His first job was at the Manchester Evening News newspaper, where he worked as a copy boy. This meant he ran messages and helped out in the office.

Later, he became interested in acting. He started performing in amateur dramatics groups. These are plays put on by people who act for fun, not as a job. He then acted at Huddersfield Rep, which is a professional theater. After that, he became a full-time actor.

During this time, he decided to change his first name from Alan to Warren. He chose the name Warren because his girlfriend at the time really liked the actor Warren Beatty.

Acting Career Highlights

Warren Clarke's first time on television was in a long-running TV show called Coronation Street. He played two different small roles in 1966 and 1968.

His first big movie role was in Stanley Kubrick's film A Clockwork Orange in 1971. In this movie, he played a character named Dim. He worked with actor Malcolm McDowell in this film. They also appeared together in another movie called O Lucky Man! (1973) and a TV film called Gulag (1985).

Warren Clarke acted in many different movies and TV shows. Some of his early film roles included The Breaking of Bumbo (1970) and Antony and Cleopatra (1972). He also appeared in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) and S.O.S. Titanic (1979).

In 1982, he played a Russian character in Clint Eastwood's movie Firefox. He also appeared in comedies like Top Secret! (1984) and Ishtar (1987).

In the 1980s and 1990s, he continued to have many important TV roles. He was in The Jewel in the Crown (1984). He also played a football club chairman in The Manageress (1989).

One of his notable roles was in Sleepers (1991). In this show, he and Nigel Havers played two secret agents from the KGB. They were living normal lives in Britain until they were called back into action. He also showed his funny side in Blackadder: The Cavalier Years, where he played Oliver Cromwell.

From 1996, Warren Clarke became very well known for playing Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel. He starred in 11 series of the TV show Dalziel and Pascoe. This show was based on crime novels by Reginald Hill.

Later in his career, he appeared in Down to Earth (2000-2003). In this series, he played a father who moved his family from London to a farm. He also played Mr. Boythorn in the TV show Bleak House (2005).

In 2014, Warren Clarke began filming for the TV series Poldark. He played the character Charles Poldark. His last scene in the show, where his character was on his deathbed, was also his final scene as an actor. He was very ill during filming and passed away a few weeks later. The first episode of Poldark was dedicated to his memory.

Personal Life

Warren Clarke enjoyed playing golf. He was also a big fan of the Manchester City football team since he was seven years old.

Warren Clarke was married twice. He had a son named Rowan with his first wife, Gail. He also had a daughter named Georgia with his second wife, Michelle.

Warren Clarke passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 12, 2014, after a short illness. He lived in Beaconsfield, England.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Warren Clarke para niños