- Alec Clunes
Infobox Person
name=Alec Clunes
caption=
birth_date=birth date|1912|5|17|df=y
birth_place=Brixton ,London
death_date=death date and age|1970|3|13|1912|5|17|df=y
death_place=London Alec Clunes (born Alexander De M. S. Clunes; [ [http://www.freebmd.org.uk Births England and Wales 1837-1983] ]
17 May 1912 Brixton ,London –13 March 1970 London ) was an English actor-manager.He was born into a showbusiness family, the son of Alexander Sydenham Sherriff Clunes and Georgina Ada Sumner . He began his stage career with Ben Greet's company, before playing at the
Old Vic theatre. He played numerous Shakespearian roles, before taking over the management of theArts Theatre ,London in 1942, where he remained until 1950. Among the plays he presented wereChristopher Fry 's famous play "The Lady's Not For Burning ". He gave theactor anddramatist Sir Peter Ustinov his first break with his production "The House of Regrets".His film career was brief, but varied. He played Hastings in
Laurence Olivier 's "Richard III" (1956), and also appeared in wartime films such as "One of Our Aircraft is Missing " (1942).Clunes later stage work included succeeding Sir Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins in the stage musical "
My Fair Lady " in 1959. His final stage appearance was in 1968.Off stage, he was an
intellectual man, widely read with a deep knowledge of theatre tradition. A theatrical great, who was often compared with his contemporaries Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir John Gielgud.He was twice married:
# Stella Richman
#Daphne Alcot (married1956 -13 March 1970 ) (one son)He died from
lung cancer in 1970, aged 57. He left a widow and a son, theactor Martin Clunes . His granddaughter was born in 1999.Notable TV Guest Appearances
* "
Undermind " playing "Police Sergeant" in episode: "Onset of Fear" (episode # 1.1)24 April 1968
* "The Ronnie Barker Playhouse " playing "Peregrine" in episode: "The Incredible Mister Tanner" (episode # 1.4)24 April 1968 In addition to these, Clunes was offered the lead part of Professor Bernard Quatermass in the famous
BBC science-fiction serial "Quatermass and the Pit " in 1958. He declined the offer, andAndré Morell was cast instead. [cite book | last=Murray| first=Andy | title=Into the Unknown: The Fantastic Life of Nigel Kneale |format=paperback|year=2006 | location=London |publisher=Headpress | id=ISBN 1-900486-50-4 | pages=p. 67]References
External links
*
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