Nigel Green

Nigel Green
Born	15 October 1924(1924-10-15) Pretoria, South Africa
Died	15 May 1972(1972-05-15) (aged 47) Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Nigel Green (15 October 1924 – 15 May 1972) was a South African-born English character actor. Because of his strapping build and commanding demeanour he would often be found playing military types and men of action in such classic sixties films as Jason and the Argonauts, Zulu, Tobruk and The Ipcress File.

Early life and career

The son of a professor, Green attended King's College School, Wimbledon and the University of London followed by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He appeared on stage at the Old Vic before making his first forays into British films and television in the mid-1950s.

Film career

Early film roles include Reach for the Sky (1956), The Criminal (1960), The League of Gentlemen (1960), and Beat Girl (1960). His large physique led to him being cast as Little John in the 1960 film Sword of Sherwood Forest.

In 1963 he had one of his most memorable roles as Hercules in Jason and the Argonauts. The following year his profile was raised dramatically following his co-starring role as Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne in Zulu. In 1965 he took a turn as leading man, playing Nayland Smith in The Face of Fu Manchu. The same year also saw another of his most memorable roles as Major Dalby in The Ipcress File where he played the superior and nemesis of Michael Caine's secret agent Harry Palmer.

Other roles include Carl Petersen in Bulldog Drummond movie Deadlier Than the Male (1967), Count Contini in the Matt Helm film The Wrecking Crew (1969) and "Lord Ashley's Whore" in John Huston's The Kremlin Letter (1969).

His strong persona allowed him to play many military roles such as in Khartoum (1966), Tobruk (1967), Fräulein Doktor and Play Dirty (both 1969).

Green also appeared in a number of horror films including Corridors of Blood (1958), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), as the father of Jane Asher's character, The Skull (1965), Let's Kill Uncle (1966) and Countess Dracula (1971).

His last role was as "the Electric Messiah", a mental patient believing himself to be God, in The Ruling Class (1972).

Television career

Television appearances include The Adventures of William Tell, The Other Man, Danger Man, The Power Game, The Avengers, Sherlock Holmes, Jason King, The Protectors and The Persuaders!.

Personal life

Green's first wife was the actress Patricia Marmont. His second wife was the actress Pamela Gordon, with whom he had one daughter.

He was separated from Gordon when he died from an overdose of sleeping pills in 1972, aged 47. It is unknown if his death was intentional or not. Peter O'Toole said on his commentary on The Ruling Class that he believes Green was very depressed, and that his death shortly after filming ended was probably intentional, although his family believe it to be unintentional.

Filmography

• The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954)
• As Long as They're Happy (1955)
• Reach for the Sky (1956)
• Find the Lady (1956)
• Bitter Victory (1957)
• Corridors of Blood (1958)
• Witness in the Dark (1959)
• Beat Girl (1959)
• The Criminal (1960)
• League of Gentlemen (1960)
• Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960)
• Gorgo (1961)
• Mysterious Island (1961)
• Pit of Darkness (1961)
• The Queen's Guards (1961)
• The Spanish Sword (1962)
• The Durant Affair (1962)
• The Primitives (1962)
• Mystery Submarine (1963)
• Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
• The Man Who Finally Died (1963)
• Zulu (1964)
• Saturday Night Out (1964)
• The Masque of the Red Death (1964)
• The Skull (1965)
• The Ipcress File (1965)
• The Face of Fu Manchu (1965)
• Khartoum (1966)
• Let's Kill Uncle (1966)
• Tobruk (1967)
• Deadlier Than the Male (1967)
• The Queen's Traitor (1967)
• Africa Texas Style (1967)
• Play Dirty (1968)
• The Wrecking Crew (1969)
• Fräulein Doktor (1969)
• The Kremlin Letter (1970)
• Countess Dracula (1971)
• The Ruling Class (1972)
• Gawain and the Green Knight (1973)

External links

Nigel Green at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Green, Nigel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	15 October 1924
Place of birth	Pretoria, South Africa
Date of death	15 May 1972
Place of death	Brighton, East Sussex, England