George Murcell

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George Murcell (born October 30, 1925 in Naples , Campania , Italy as George Arthur Murcell ; † December 3, 1998 in Isleworth , Middlesex , England ) was an Italian-born British stage and character actor in film, television and theater. He became popular in the early 1960s through the role of Professor Popkiss in the British science fiction television series Supercar . He has also appeared in over 30 international films, including Duel at the Wheel , James Bond 007 - You Only Live Twice , A Journey With Love and Death , The Steppe Riders or In Love with Danger .

life and career

George Arthur Murcell, born in Naples in 1925, received his acting training at the renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In 1952 he played his first small role in the British TV series BBC Sunday-Night Theater . This was followed in over 40 years by numerous appearances in well-known international television series such as Secret Order for John Drake , Der Baron , Simon Templar , Mit Schirm, Charme und Melone , Randall & Hopkirk - Detective Agency with Spirit , Bonanza , Die 2 , Black Beauty , Z Cars , or the professionals . From 1961 to 1962 he was seen in the popular supercar puppet series, where he played Professor Rudolph Popkiss, designer of the “Supercar”, in 39 episodes.

In 1956, George Murcell made his screen debut in the war drama Panzerschiff Graf Spee directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger . Because of his stout, beefy stature, he was often cast in coarse villain roles that required a certain physical presence, as in Cy Endfield's psycho thriller Duel at the wheel or in Ralph Thomas' adventure film Dangerous Legacy . Since the 1960s he has also played more nuanced roles such as the intrepid police informer Johnny in Jack Smight's crook comedy The Gentleman-Zinker , the Soviet diplomat in Lewis Gilbert's lavishly staged film adaptation of James Bond 007 - You Only Live Twice or the captain in John Huston's film drama A Journey With of love and death . In 1968 the American director John Frankenheimer gave him the role of Deputy Warden in his film A Man Like Job . This collaboration was so fruitful that Frankenheimer cast Murcell in two more of his films in important roles. In the adventure film Die Steppenreiter in 1971 with Omar Sharif and in 1991 in the action thriller In love with danger .

Murcell was very involved in the theater sector all his life. After studying acting at RADA , he played numerous stage roles in Great Britain, including many English classics from the Shakespeare repertoire. He worked with theater greats such as Tyrone Guthrie in Tamborlaine , with Peter Brook or with Rex Harrison in Planatov von Chekhov . In addition, Murcell was an active member of the Royal Shakespeare Company .

In 1968, George Murcell, along with C. Walter Hodges and others, helped restore the old St George's Elizabethan Theater, with the intention of producing Shakespeare plays in a recreated, 16th-century atmosphere that would match the original performance time and the Original productions came as close as possible. The building in north London shone in new splendor after the restoration in 1973 and officially opened its doors as a public playhouse converted in Elizabethan style as the St. George Theater. In the 1970s and 1980s Murcell staged numerous classic plays as an actor and director with his wife.

In addition to his active acting career, which included a total of over 80 roles in film and television, Murcell was also an accomplished musician and was also active in the field of linguistics and dialectics.

George Murcell was married to his first wife Josephine Tweedy from 1953. His second wife was the actress Elvi Hale, who actively supported him in many of his projects. The wedding took place in 1960 and lasted until his death on December 3, 1998.

Filmography (selection)

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Biographical data by George Murcell in: Obituaries in the Performing Arts , by Harris M. Lentz, McFarland & Co., 1998, p. 162
  2. ↑ Biographical data of George Murcell in: Die Profis: on the trail of CI5: the big book for the series , by Werner Schmitz, Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, 2006, page 484
  3. ↑ George Murcell in: Das Konzept Emma Peel: The Unexpected Charm of Emancipation: The Avengers and their Audience , by Lars Baumgart Ludwig, Kiel, 2002, page 170
  4. ↑ George Murcell in: The Encyclopedia of TV Science Fiction , by Roger Fulton, Boxtree, 1990, p. 411
  5. ↑ George Murcell in: The London Encyclopaedia (3rd Edition) , by Christopher Hibbert Ben Weinreb, John & Julia Keay, 2011, p. 761
  6. ↑ George Murcell in: The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare on Stage , by Stanley Wells, Sarah Stanton, Cambridge University Press, 2002, p. 86
personal data
SURNAME Murcell, George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Murcell, George Arthur (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British actor
DATE OF BIRTH October 30, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH Naples , Campania , Italy
DATE OF DEATH December 3, 1998
Place of death Isleworth , Middlesex , England