27 Facts About Denis Quilley

From a family with no theatrical connections, Quilley was determined from an early age to become an actor.

Denis Quilley was taken on by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in his teens, and after a break for compulsory military service he began a West End career in 1950, succeeding Richard Burton in The Lady's Not For Burning.

Denis Quilley joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977 in the central role in Privates on Parade, which was later made into a feature film.

Denis Quilley was born in Islington, North London, the son of Clifford Charles Denis Quilley, a Post Office telegraphist, and his wife Ada Winifred, nee Stanley.

Denis Quilley won a scholarship to Bancroft's School in Woodford Green, London, and was expected to go from there to a university, but he was determined to become an actor as soon as possible.

The understudy to Claire Bloom in the play was Stella Chapman, whom Denis Quilley married in 1949.

Later in 1950 Denis Quilley joined the Old Vic Company for a British Council tour of Italy, playing Fabian in Twelfth Night and Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice.

Denis Quilley took part in a revival of the 17th century gigue Michael and Francis at Hampton Court as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951, and sang in other performances by the London Opera Club alongside established opera singers, including their fifth anniversary concert at the Arts Council in 1953.

One of Denis Quilley's other singing roles of the 1950s was the title character in Leonard Bernstein's operetta Candide.

Denis Quilley made his first Broadway appearance the following year, again taking over the part of Nestor and subsequently touring the US with the production.

Denis Quilley sang in two complete BBC Gilbert and Sullivan radio broadcasts in 1966; Strephon in Iolanthe, and Florian in Princess Ida.

In 1965, Denis Quilley appeared in the science-fiction TV series Undermind playing Professor Val Randolph - a scientist who after four episodes is revealed to be an alien traitor.

When Peter Hall succeeded Olivier in 1975, Denis Quilley was the only member of the old company to be invited to appear in the opening production of the new regime, playing Caliban to Gielgud's Prospero in The Tempest.

Denis Quilley made two cinema films in the 1970s, playing Antonio Foscarelli in Murder on the Orient Express and Bateson in The Black Windmill.

Denis Quilley appeared on television in a wide range of roles, from Commander Traynor in a children's science fiction series, Timeslip, to Charles II in A Bill of Mortality, George Cannon in a serialisation of the Clayhanger novels, and the title role in Frederic Raphael's version of Aeschylus's Agamemnon.

Denis Quilley reprised the role in a film version made in 1982.

Also in 1977, on the West End, Denis Quilley played James opposite Deborah Kerr in George Bernard Shaw's Candida.

Denis Quilley returned to musicals in 1980, playing the title role in the first London production of Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.

Denis Quilley won his second SWET award for the performance.

Denis Quilley continued to divide his time between the musical and non-musical theatre.

In 1984 Denis Quilley appeared on the original concept album for the musical Chess as Molokov.

Denis Quilley played Georges, the partner of the flamboyant Albin.

Denis Quilley took the role of God in Britten's Noye's Fludde in London in 1995.

In 1993 Denis Quilley played Bob Carruthers in the Sherlock Holmes story "The Solitary Cyclist" for the BBC Radio 4 Sherlock Holmes drama series.

Denis Quilley played Judge Turpin in the 1993 revival of Sweeney Todd at the National Theatre, resuming his original role as the demon barber later in the run.

Denis Quilley was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2002 New Year Honours.

Denis Quilley was working on his autobiography in the months before he died at his home in London, aged 75, from liver cancer.