Brian Blessed at Cambridge Film Festival 2007

Brian Blessed (or, in the tradition of English poetry, Blessèd; pronounced /ˈblɛsɛd/) (born 9 October 1937 in Mexborough, near Doncaster) is an English actor, who came to fame as PC 'Fancy' Smith in the BBC TV police drama series Z Cars. He is a highly charismatic man with a booming voice, great beard and robust build ideal for the bushy-bearded, often humorous men in Shakespearean and medieval dramas. Particularly in the United States, he is known for his role as Caesar Augustus in the 1976 TV-series I, Claudius, a BBC mini-series shown on American public television. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 468 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (699 × 895 pixels, file size: 134 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 468 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (699 × 895 pixels, file size: 134 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mexborough is a town on the north bank of the River Don west of its confluence with the River Dearne, in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. ... For other places with the same name, see Doncaster (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Z-Cars (sometimes written as Z Cars, and always pronounced zed, never zee) was a British television drama series centred around the work of regular beat police officers in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby near Liverpool, in the north-west of England. ... For other uses, see Charisma (disambiguation). ... The human voice consists of sound made by a human using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying and screaming. ... For the slang term, see Beard (female companion). ... Shakespeare redirects here. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... For other uses, see Drama (disambiguation). ... The famous statue of Octavian at the Prima Porta Caesar Augustus (Latin:IMP·CAESAR·DIVI·F·AVGVSTVS) ¹ (23 September 63 BC–19 August AD 14), known to modern historians as Octavian for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, is considered the first and one of the most... I, Claudius is a novel by Robert Graves, (ISBN 067972477X) first published in 1934, dealing sympathetically with the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius and the history of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and Roman Empire, from Julius Caesars assassination in 44 BC to Caligulas assassination in 41 AD...

The son of a miner, Blessed was born in Mexborough He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He has written about his early life in his autobiography Dynamite Kid (1992). Blessed now lives in Surrey. He is married to the actress Hildegarde Neil and has a daughter. Wyoming coal mine Coal mining is the mining of coal. ... Mexborough is a town on the north bank of the River Don west of its confluence with the River Dearne, in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. ... The Coopers Hall (right) became the theatre foyer in the 1970s The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre complex and theatrical company in the centre of Bristol, England. ... Cover of the first English edition of 1793 of Benjamin Franklins autobiography. ... This article is about the English county. ...

He provided the vocal links on the Sony Award-winning Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio and introduces adverts for Orange mobile phones. At Christmas 2006 he presented a Cinderella-style play for Virgin Radio starring actors such as David Tennant and Thandie Newton. In November 2006 Blessed made a surprise appearance on the midday talk show Loose Women. Christian OConnell is an English radio DJ who presents the Virgin Radio weekday breakfast show. ... Virgin Radio, originally known as Virgin 1215, is one of the UKs three Independent National Radio stations. ... Orange SA IPA: is a mobile network operator and an internet service provider that is a subsidiary of France Télécom. ... Gustave Dorés illustration for Cendrillon Cinderella (French: Cendrillon) is a popular fairy tale embodying a classic folk tale myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. ... David Tennant is the stage name of David John McDonald (born 18 April 1971), a Scottish actor from Bathgate, West Lothian, best known for portraying the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in the television series Doctor Who. ... Thandiwe Adjewa Thandie Newton (born 6 November 1972, is a BAFTA Award-winning English actress[1]. // Newton was born in Zambia, to a white English lab technician and artist, Nick Newton, and a Zimbabwean health-care worker, Nyasha. ... Loose Women is an ITV afternoon programme which began in 1999, in which a panel of four women talk about topical issues and interview celebrity guests before a studio audience. ...

Blessed is generally recognised as a Shakespearean actor, as well as an immensely entertaining and often parodied comic figure, mainly because of his instantly recognisable voice. He has appeared in four of the five Shakespeare films directed by Kenneth Branagh: as The Duke of Exeter in Henry V, Antonio in Much Ado About Nothing, The Ghost of Hamlet's Father in Hamlet and the dual role of Duke Frederick and Duke Senior in As You Like It. He also appeared as the Mad King Richard IV in the first series of Blackadder in a parody of the stereotypical Shakespearean Nobleman. Other roles have emphasized his comedic abilities, notably Prince Vultan in Flash Gordon (1980) and Spiro in the BBC adaptation of My Family and Other Animals (1987) [1]. He also played the role of General Yevlenko in the 1988 miniseries War and Remembrance. Kenneth Charles Branagh (born December 10, 1960) is an Emmy Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated Northern Irish-born actor and film director. ... Henry reads of the French dead after the battle of Agincourt Henry V is a 1989 film directed by Kenneth Branagh, and based upon the Shakespeare play. ... Much Ado About Nothing is a 1993 movie based on William Shakespeares play; it was adapted for the screen and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also played the role of Benedick. ... William Shakespeares Hamlet is a 1996 film version of William Shakespeares classic play of the same name, adapted and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also starred in the title role. ... As You Like It is a film due for release in 2006, directed by Kenneth Branagh. ... King Richard IV of England was a fictional character in the first series of the BBC comedy series The Black Adder, played by Brian Blessed. ... For other uses, see Blackadder (disambiguation). ... Flash Gordon is a 1980 science fiction film, based on the eponymous comic strip character Flash Gordon. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... My Family and Other Animals is an autobiographical work by naturalist Gerald Durrell, telling of his childhood years spent on the Greek island of Corfu. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

He played a brief role in the Warhammer 40,000 game Fire Warrior. Warhammer 40,000 (informally known as Warhammer 40K, WH40K, W40K or just 40K) is a science fantasy game produced by Games Workshop. ... Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior is the name of a Warhammer 40,000 computer game available for the PlayStation 2 and PC. The game is a first person shooter, where the player takes the role of a Tau Fire Warrior, Kais, defending his race against the aggressive Human Empire. ...

Demonstrating his versatility, Blessed has also starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats as both Old Deuteronomy and Bustopher Jones during the original London production. In 2002, under the direction of Royal Shakespeare Company director, Adrian Noble, Blessed originated the role of Baron Bombhurst for the stage musical version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , for which he received tremendous acclaim. Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948) is a highly successful English composer of musical theatre, and also the elder brother of cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. ... Cats is an award-winning musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possums Book of Practical Cats and other poems by T. S. Eliot. ... Old Deuteronomy is a character in T. S. Eliots Old Possums Book of Practical Cats and its musical adaptation, Cats. ... Bustopher Jones is one of the cats featured in Old Possums Book of Practical Cats. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a British theatre company. ... Adrian Noble was the director of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1990 to 2003. ... Brian Blessed and Nicola McAuliffe in the London stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from 2002-2003. ... Chitty the Musical is a stage musical based on the story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming and the 1968 film produced by Cubby Broccoli. ...

Blessed is also an adventurer. On three occasions, he has tried to climb Mount Everest (though he never reached the summit), and climbed higher than any other man of his age (56 years at the time; his height record was broken by Yuichiro Miura, aged 70, in 2003) during one attempt in 1993. He was on the mountain on May 10, 1996, when 8 climbers were killed in a sudden late-afternoon blizzard, though Blessed was safe at his base camp that day. He has successfully climbed Aconcagua in Argentina as well as Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. In 2004, he sang on Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes as Luciano Pavarotti. Blessed is also known for his footballing (soccer) knowledge and appeared as an expert on the British satellite station UKTV G2 during the 2006 World Cup. He also appeared on A Question of Sport in 2006. He is a Newcastle United fan. Even Soldiers of Fortune have to sing! 1958 record album An adventurer or adventuress is a term that usually takes one of three meanings: One whose travels are unusual and often exotic, though not so unique as to qualify as exploration. ... Everest redirects here. ... Yuichiro Miura (三浦雄一郎, born October 12, 1932) is a Japanese alpinist who is currently the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. ... is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. ... This article is about the winter storm condition. ... In climbing, a base camp may be set up to provide the starting point for a multiple day or week assault on climbing a mountain. ... Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas. ... Kilimanjaro is a mountain in northeastern Tanzania. ... Stars In Their Eyes is a British television talent show in which contestants impersonate showbiz stars. ... Luciano Pavarotti performing on June 15, 2002 at a concert in the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI[1] (October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007) was a celebrated Italian tenor in operatic music, who successfully crossed into popular music becoming one of the most... A Question of Sport is a long-running BBC quiz show which started on 5 January 1970 and continues to this day. ... For the Australian soccer club see Newcastle United (Australia). ...

Blessed (centre) as Exeter in Henry V

Download high resolution version (853x480, 53 KB) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Download high resolution version (853x480, 53 KB) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Henry reads of the French dead after the battle of Agincourt Henry V is a 1989 film directed by Kenneth Branagh, and based upon the Shakespeare play. ...

Selected filmography

• 1966 - The Three Musketeers - Porthos
• 1967 - The Avengers - Mark Dayton
• 1968 - The Avengers - Sergeant Hearn
• 1968 - Cold Comfort Farm - Reuben Starkadder
• 1969 - Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
• 1972 - Arthur of the Britons - Mark of Cornwall
• 1976 - Jaws - Man on beach reading newspaper
• 1976 - Space: 1999 - Dr. Cabot Rowland, and Mentor (Maya's father) (his wife Hildegard Neil appeared in a third episode of this series)
• 1977 - Survivors - Brod in the episode Law of the Jungle
• 1978 - Blake's 7 - Vargas in the episode Cygnus Alpha
• 1980 - Flash Gordon - Prince Vultan
• 1980 - The Joy of Bach (TV) - J.S. Bach/Himself
• 1983 - The Black Adder - Richard IV
• 1983 - High Road to China - Suleiman Khan
• 1986 - Doctor Who - King Yrcanos in the serial The Trial of a Time Lord: Mindwarp
• 1986 - Return to Treasure Island - Long John Silver
• 1989 - Henry V - Exeter
• 1991 - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - Lord Locksley
• 1991 - Galahad of Everest - George Mallory
• 1993 - Much Ado About Nothing - Signor Antonio
• 1994 - MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis - Atticus
• 1996 - Hamlet - Ghost
• 1999 - King Lear - King Lear
• 1999 - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Boss Nass, leader of the Gungans (voice)
• 1999 - Tarzan - Clayton (voice)
• 1999 - The Big Knights (animated Children's BBC TV series) - Sir Morris (voice)
• 2002 - Kingdom Hearts "Clayton" - (video game) (voice)
• 2004 - Alexander - wrestling trainer
• 2005 - Weebl and Bob flash cartoon - Narrator
• 2006 - Rome Total War: Alexander - Narrator
• 2007 - Back in Business - Trevor Pilkington
• 2007 - Demands of Levitating Heavy Stones Pt1 "Voice of the Prism" - ("song by Transept") (voice)

For other uses, see The Three Musketeers (disambiguation). ... The Avengers is a British 1960s television series featuring secret agents in a fantasy 1960s Britain. ... Cold Comfort Farm is a comic novel by Stella Gibbons, published in 1932. ... Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) is a cult late 1960s British private detective television series starring Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope as the private detectives Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk. ... Arthur of the Britons was a short-lived (1972–1973) but fondly remembered British television show about the historical King Arthur. ... Mark of Cornwall (Latin Marcus Cunomorus, Cornish Margh, Welsh March or Cynfawr) was a king of Kernyw (Cornwall) in the early 6th century AD. He is most famous as the uncle of Tristan and husband of Iseult, who engage in a secret affair behind his back. ... Jaws is a 1975 thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Peter Benchleys best-selling novel inspired by the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916. ... Left to right: Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell and Martin Landau from Space:1999s second season. ... For other uses, see Survivors (disambiguation). ... Blakes 7 is a British science fiction television series made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for their BBC 1 channel. ... Flash Gordon is a 1980 science fiction film, based on the eponymous comic strip character Flash Gordon. ... Prince Vultan is the Prince of the bird-like Hawk-people in the Flash Gordon comic strip and its adaptions. ... For other uses, see Blackadder (disambiguation). ... King Richard IV of England was a fictional character in the first series of the BBC comedy series The Black Adder, played by Brian Blessed. ... Movie poster for High Road to China High Road to China is a 1983 adventure-comedy film, set in the 1920s, starring Tom Selleck as a hard-drinking biplane pilot hired by society heiress Bess Armstrong to find her father Wilford Brimley, The supporting cast includes Robert Morley and Brian... This article is about the television series. ... The Trial of a Time Lord is the on-screen title for all fourteen episodes comprising the 23rd season (1986) of the original Doctor Who series. ... For other uses, see Mindwarp (disambiguation). ... Return to Treasure Island is a Disney mini-Series, starring Brian Blessed as Long John Silver. ... Henry reads of the French dead after the battle of Agincourt Henry V is a 1989 film directed by Kenneth Branagh, and based upon the Shakespeare play. ... Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter (c. ... Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was a 1991 film directed by Kevin Reynolds. ... George Herbert Leigh Mallory (18 June 1886 – 8 June/9 June 1924) was an English mountaineer who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 1920s. ... Much Ado About Nothing is a 1993 movie based on William Shakespeares play; it was adapted for the screen and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also played the role of Benedick. ... William Shakespeares Hamlet is a 1996 film version of William Shakespeares classic play of the same name, adapted and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also starred in the title role. ... Film poster for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 film by George Lucas starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Jake Lloyd. ... Boss Nass is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. ... // The Falleen are a scaled, cold-blooded, reptilian humanoid species with pigmentation that varies with mood, known to be as long lived as the Hutts (the Falleen have an average lifespan of 250 Standard Years) who inhabit and originate from the planet Falleen. ... This article is about the 1999 film. ... Clayton is the hunter and villain from the Disney film Tarzan. ... The Big Knights was an animated television programme on BBC1. ... This article contains information on the first Kingdom Hearts video game. ... Namcos Pac-Man is one of the most popular video games ever made. ... Alexander is a 2004 epic motion picture film, based on the life of Alexander the Great. ... This article is about the Flash Cartoon series. ... The Narrator is the entity within a story that tells the story to the reader. ... Rome: Total War is a grand strategy computer game where players fight historical and fictious battles during the era of the Roman Republic, from 270 BCE to 14 CE. The game was developed by Creative Assembly and released on September 22, 2004. ...

Books

• The Turquoise Mountain: Brian Blessed on Everest (1991)
• Dynamite Kid (1992)
• Nothing's Impossible (1994)
• To the Top of the World (1995)
• Quest for the Lost World (1999)

Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ...

External links

• Brian Blessed at the Internet Movie Database
• Biography on agent's website