Impact is saddened to hear about the passing of acclaimed British actor Nigel Terry at the age of 69.
Born in Bristol in 1945 he ultimately became a veteran of stage and screen, with his initial breakthrough role as Prince John in 1968's The Lion in Winter alongside the likes of Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn. Thereafter, he was probably best known for his roles in the likes of John Boorman's groundbreaking epic Excalibur (where he played King Arthur) 1986's Caravaggio (where he played the title role) 1992's Covington Cross (where he played Sir Thomas Grey) and in 2004's Troy with Brad Pitt. He also appeared as a guest-star in many television series such as Doctor Who and Highlander.
I spoke at length with Nigel several years ago while originally writing The Cutting Edge book and he told me of his experiences on Excalibur and how childhood illness had actually helped him forge a career in films, his eventual dance-training to aid his recovery eventually helping with sword-fights and roles that needed precision movements.
“You pick it up, a little like horse-riding. I wasn’t specifically taught. You are in America, of course. It’s very specialised there and I do think people should be trained like that. I think it’s a wonderful thing to do. I was always ‘not bad’ at it,” he explained. “I was actually born with a form of rickets and as a kid I had trouble with my legs. I spent a lot of time in callipers and plaster. After I left drama school, I got interested in movement but I wasn’t very strong. I was in repertory theatre and when I got back to London I started ballet classes. I wasn’t very good, but I started to learn and strengthen myself. Oddly enough, ever since I’ve never had a problem on a horse because I can get the right position.”
He was an intense man, able to speak at length and intelligently about his experiences and craft as an actor and though he would gladly take on bigger roles if the conditions were right, he always seemed more at home in the character roles that smaller independent films and stage-work continued to offer.
His last screen appearance was in the mini-series Genghis Khan: The Story of a Lifetime, directed by Ken Annakin and Antonio Margheriti - which was also the famed Annakin's last project.
Nigel passed away from emphysema a few months short of his seventieth birthday.
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