Ian Charleson

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Ian Charleson (born August 11, 1949 in Edinburgh , Scotland , † January 6, 1990 in London , England ) was a British film and theater actor .

biography

Ian Charleson was the second of three children to a printer; he had a brother three years older, Kenneth, and a sister eleven years younger, Elizabeth.

Charleson's talent was already evident as a child when he appeared as the soprano voice in the children's choir . Later, in 1982, the Royal Shakespeare Company , of which Charleson was a member, released a record of the rare tape recordings from that time. After attending the Royal High School and the University of Edinburgh , Charleson began studying architecture , but dropped out after a few semesters to study drama. He later said that the only thing he had designed on the drawing board at that time was a bridge without foundations. Charleson then attended the famous London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . He left this early on and became a member of Frank Dunlop's Young Vic Company in London.

From 1977 to 1980 he was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company . He also made his film debut in 1977; only 20 more feature films were to follow. He gained greater international fame in 1981 through his portrayal of Olympic champion Eric Liddell in The Victory's Hour and in 1982 through the role of clergyman Charlie Andrews in Gandhi .

He died eight weeks after playing the title role in Hamlet in Richard Eyre's production on stage at the Olivier Theater . It was only after his death that it became public knowledge that Ian Charleson was homosexual and that he had contracted HIV in the 1980s . He died of AIDS at the age of 40 .

Ian Charleson Award

In 1990, the Ian Charleson Awards were launched in his honor by the theater critic John Peter (* 1938). They reward young stage actors who are under 30 years of age. The awards are given annually and sponsored by the Sunday Times and the National Theater . The top three winners will receive cash prizes.

Filmography

Web links

Individual evidence


personal data
SURNAME Charleson, Ian
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Scottish film and stage actor
DATE OF BIRTH August 11, 1949
PLACE OF BIRTH Edinburgh , Scotland
DATE OF DEATH January 6, 1990
Place of death London , England