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 Following a brief teaching career, Michael Hordern made his stage debut in 1937. He made his film debut in 1939, but his career was stalled by WWII. He resumed his acting career in 1946, both in theatre and films. He hit his stride in the 1960s playing befuddled characters, particularly stuffy public officials. He was knighted in 1983.Some of Hordern's finest work was not in films or television but on radio: His performance as Gandalf in the BBC's radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings was arguably the definitive portrayal of that character (contrast Hordern's Gandalf with that of Ian McKellen in the 3-part film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings directed by Peter Jackson).Sir Michael Hordern established himself as one of the premier stage actors of his generation, and also had a flourishing career as a supporting player in British and international cinema. Born on October 3, 1911, in Berkhamsted, England, Michael Murray Hordern was the son of John Calvery Hordern, a British Army captain, and the former Margareta Emily Murray. After receiving his education and graduating from Brighton College, Hordern supported himself as a teacher and salesman before launching a life in the theater in 1937, after having partaken in amateur theatricals in the evenings and on weekends. He debuted in the cinema in a bit role in Carol Reed's A Girl Must Live (1939) (1939) and also had a bit part in The Girl in the News (1940) (1940), but his acting career went on hiatus when Britain went to war against the forces of fascism. Hordern joined the Royal Navy for the duration in 1940.After being demobilized in 1945, Hordern returned to the stage, and also began appearing regular in films and on television. He established his reputation as a first-rate stage actor, excelling in classical and Shakespearan roles at the Old Vic and at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford. He befriended a young Richard Burton in the early 1950s, and the two would appear together in eight films starting with Alexander the Great (1956) in 1956, including, most memorably, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969).Hordern is most likely known to audiences for his portrayal of Jacob Marley in the 1951 British adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" (known as A Christmas Carol (1951)) starring Alastair Sim, and as the off-screen narrator of Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1975), which showcased his mellifluous voice. (Hordern was an outstanding radio actor.) Most critics credit his portrayal of the disillusioned journalist in England Made Me (1973) as his finest screen role.Michael Hordern was knighted in 1983 for his services to the stage, and he wrote his autobiography, "A World Elsewhere," which was published in 1993. His masterful portrayal of Prospero in the BBC's The Tempest (1980) likely will remain the definite portrait for years to come. He was also a superb King Lear (1982).Sir Michael Hordern died from kidney disease in Oxford, England on May 2, 1995, at the age of 83. He left behind a daughter by his wife, the former Grace Eveline Mortimer, who had precede him in death in 1986 after 42 years of marriage."He befriended a young Richard Burton in the early 1950s, and the two would appear together in eight films starting with Alexander the Great (1956) in 1956, including, most memorably, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), The Taming of the Shrew (1967 ), and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)."
Bio:
Following a brief teaching career, Michael Hordern made his stage debut in 1937. He made his film debut in 1939, but his career was stalled by WWII. He resumed his acting career in 1946, both in theatre and films. He hit his stride in the 1960s playing befuddled characters, particularly stuffy public officials. He was knighted in 1983.
Some of Hordern's finest work was not in films or television but on radio: His performance as Gandalf in the BBC's radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings was arguably the definitive portrayal of that character (contrast Hordern's Gandalf with that of Ian McKellen in the 3-part film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings directed by Peter Jackson).
Sir Michael Hordern established himself as one of the premier stage actors of his generation, and also had a flourishing career as a supporting player in British and international cinema. Born on October 3, 1911, in Berkhamsted, England, Michael Murray Hordern was the son of John Calvery Hordern, a British Army captain, and the former Margareta Emily Murray. After receiving his education and graduating from Brighton College, Hordern supported himself as a teacher and salesman before launching a life in the theater in 1937, after having partaken in amateur theatricals in the evenings and on weekends. He debuted in the cinema in a bit role in Carol Reed's A Girl Must Live (1939) (1939) and also had a bit part in The Girl in the News (1940) (1940), but his acting career went on hiatus when Britain went to war against the forces of fascism. Hordern joined the Royal Navy for the duration in 1940.After being demobilized in 1945, Hordern returned to the stage, and also began appearing regular in films and on television. He established his reputation as a first-rate stage actor, excelling in classical and Shakespearan roles at the Old Vic and at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford. He befriended a young Richard Burton in the early 1950s, and the two would appear together in eight films starting with Alexander the Great (1956) in 1956, including, most memorably, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969).Hordern is most likely known to audiences for his portrayal of Jacob Marley in the 1951 British adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" (known as A Christmas Carol (1951)) starring Alastair Sim, and as the off-screen narrator of Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1975), which showcased his mellifluous voice. (Hordern was an outstanding radio actor.) Most critics credit his portrayal of the disillusioned journalist in England Made Me (1973) as his finest screen role.Michael Hordern was knighted in 1983 for his services to the stage, and he wrote his autobiography, "A World Elsewhere," which was published in 1993. His masterful portrayal of Prospero in the BBC's The Tempest (1980) likely will remain the definite portrait for years to come. He was also a superb King Lear (1982).Sir Michael Hordern died from kidney disease in Oxford, England on May 2, 1995, at the age of 83. He left behind a daughter by his wife, the former Grace Eveline Mortimer, who had precede him in death in 1986 after 42 years of marriage.
"He befriended a young Richard Burton in the early 1950s, and the two would appear together in eight films starting with Alexander the Great (1956) in 1956, including, most memorably, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), The Taming of the Shrew (1967 ), and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)."
Tivia:
He appeared in three different adaptations of Charles Dickens's 1843 novel "A Christmas Carol". He played Jacob Marley in both A Christmas Carol (1951) and A Christmas Carol (1971) and Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (1977).Notable stage work for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford and in London, at the Old Vic and in the West End. In addition to his many Shakespearean roles (As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Twelfth Night), Hordern performed in plays by Strindberg, Chekhov, Ibsen, Pinero, Pinter, D��rrenmatt, Albee, Alan Ayckbourn, David Mercer and Tom Stoppard. His King Lear is considered his most respected work, which he also played on the BBC.On the Wogan chat show he said he refused the offers to play the second Doctor Who (played by Patrick Troughton) and Maigret (played by Rupert Davies).David Jason considered him one of his heroes. He claimed he could never have stood on stage with him and done Shakespeare and been competitive. When they worked together on The Wind in the Willows (1984), the cast were surprised with the energy Jason brought to Mr Toad and had to work to keep up with him. Jason believed he just about managed to hold his own.Terry Gilliam's first casting choice for The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988).Made his professional debut in 1937 at the People's Palace, east London, playing Lodovico in "Othello". Later in the year he joined the repertory company of the Little Theatre in Bristol; it was here that he met his future wife, actress Eve Mortimer. They had one daughter.Loved fly fishing for trout and salmon.He and brother Peter were educated at Brighton College.He was made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 1972 Queen's New Year Honours List and a Knight Bachelor in the 1983 Queen's New Year Honours List for services to drama.He was awarded the 1988 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) Special Award.He was a good friend to Richard Burton in the early days of the latter's career and Burton never forgot it. They worked together in several films later on and Hordern always claimed that he got every one of these roles as a direct result of Burton's personal recommendation.He claimed that he had had good relations with all his directors except for Zoltan Korda and John Huston.He and Ian McKellen, who have both played Gandalf, also share the same middle name of Murray.Married his wife in the basement rehearsal room at the Bristol Theatre about 1940,.A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 4th October 1995.He was considered for the roles of Dr. Hans Fallada, Dr. Armstrong and Sir Percy Heseltine in Lifeforce (1985).Daughter Joanna born 1946.He spent 40 years on stage and made over 50 films.Fighter Direction Officer and then First Lieutenant on board HMS Illustrious during the Second World War. He left the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. |
| Name: |
Michael Hordern |
Type: |
Actor,Soundtrack (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Actor,Soundtrack |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Soundtrack |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 09:53:33 |
| Height: |
6' (1.83 m) |
| Biography: |
Following a brief teaching career, Michael Hordern made his stage debut in 1937. He made his film debut in 1939, but his career was stalled by WWII. He resumed his acting career in 1946, both in theatre and films. He hit his stride in the 1960s playi |
| Trivia: |
He appeared in three different adaptations of Charles Dickens's 1843 novel "A Christmas Carol". He played Jacob Marley in both A Christmas Carol (1951) and A Christmas Carol (1971) and Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (1977).Notable stage work for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford and in London, at the Old Vic and in the West End. In addition to his many Shakespearean roles (As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Twelfth Night), Hordern performed in plays by Strindberg, Chekhov, Ibsen, Pinero, Pinter, D��rrenmatt, Albee, Alan Ayckbourn, David Mercer and Tom Stoppard. His King Lear is considered his most respected work, which he also played on the BBC.On the Wogan chat show he said he refused the offers to play the second Doctor Who (played by Patrick Troughton) and Maigret (played by Rupert Davies).David Jason considered him one of his heroes. He claimed he could never have stood on stage with him and done Shakespeare and been competitive. When they worked together on The Wind in the Willows (1984), the cast were surprised with the energy Jason brought to Mr Toad and had to work to keep up with him. Jason believed he just about managed to hold his own.Terry Gilliam's first casting choice for The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988).Made his professional debut in 1937 at the People's Palace, east London, playing Lodovico in "Othello". Later in the year he joined the repertory company of the Little Theatre in Bristol; it was here that he met his future wife, actress Eve Mortimer. They had one daughter.Loved fly fishing for trout and salmon.He and brother Peter were educated at Brighton College.He was made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 1972 Queen's New Year Honours List and a Knight Bachelor in the 1983 Queen's New Year Honours List for services to drama.He was awarded the 1988 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) Special Award.He was a good friend to Richard Burton in the early days of the latter's career and Burton never forgot it. They worked together in several films later on and Hordern always claimed that he got every one of these roles as a direct result of Burton's personal recommendation.He claimed that he had had good relations with all his directors except for Zoltan Korda and John Huston.He and Ian McKellen, who have both played Gandalf, also share the same middle name of Murray.Married his wife in the basement rehearsal room at the Bristol Theatre about 1940,.A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 4th October 1995.He was considered for the roles of Dr. Hans Fallada, Dr. Armstrong and Sir Percy Heseltine in Lifeforce (1985).Daughter Joanna born 1946.He spent 40 years on stage and made over 50 films.Fighter Direction Officer and then First Lieutenant on board HMS Illustrious during the Second World War. He left the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. |
| Job title: |
Actor,Soundtrack |
| Others works: |
"Hallmark Hall of Fame/Lamp at Midnight", 27 April 1966 as Cardinal Barberini
Played Gandalf in the BBC Radio production of "The Lord of the Rings" (1979), alongside Ian Holm.
Played the Player King in the Royal Shakespeare Company p |
| Spouse: |
Eve Mortimer (June 1943 - April 19, 1986) (her death, 1 child) |
| Parents: |
Edward Joseph Calverly Hordern
Margaret Emily Murray |
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