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==Biography==
==Biography==
===Early life===
===Early life===
Born in [[Streatham]], [[London]], on 18 September 1946, the son of a professional soldier in the [[British Army]]'s [[Royal Engineers]].
Born in [[Streatham]], [[London]], on 18 September 1946, the son of a professional soldier in the [[British Army]]'s [[Royal Engineers]]. The family settled in Kent where Clay became interested in acting, performing at the Little Medway Theatre Club.
===Early Career===
===Early Career===
He had roles on TV in episodes of ''[[Ask Mr. Pastry]]'' (1961), ''[[ITV Television Playhouse]]'', ''[[The Pocket Lancer]]'' (1961), and ''Tales of Mystery''. He made his film debut with ''[[These Are the Damned]]'' (1962) and could be seen in ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'', ''[[William (TV series)|William]]'', ''[[Sergeant Cork]]'', and ''Drama 61-67''. He studied at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA).<ref name="obit">{{cite news| title=Nicholas Clay| url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/may/31/guardianobituaries3| work=[[The Guardian]]| location=[[Manchester]]| date=30 May 2000| publisher=Guardian.co.uk| accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>
He had roles on TV in episodes of ''[[Ask Mr. Pastry]]'' (1961), ''[[ITV Television Playhouse]]'', ''[[The Pocket Lancer]]'' (1961), and ''Tales of Mystery''. He made his film debut with ''[[These Are the Damned]]'' (1962) and could be seen in ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'', ''[[William (TV series)|William]]'', ''[[Sergeant Cork]]'', and ''Drama 61-67''. He studied at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA).<ref name="obit">{{cite news| title=Nicholas Clay| url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/may/31/guardianobituaries3| work=[[The Guardian]]| location=[[Manchester]]| date=30 May 2000| publisher=Guardian.co.uk| accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>


===Early 1970s===
===Early 1970s===
Clay appeared in several [[West End of London|West End]] theatre productions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/person/10hs/nicholas-clay|title=Nicholas Clay - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> He returned to films with ''[[The Night Digger]]'' (1971), a horror movie with [[Patricia Neal]] and was in episodes of ''[[Take Three Girls]]'', ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'', and ''[[Love Story (UK TV series)|Love Story]]''.
Clay appeared in several [[West End of London|West End]] theatre productions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/person/10hs/nicholas-clay|title=Nicholas Clay - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref>


He returned to films with ''[[The Night Digger]]'' (1971), a horror movie with [[Patricia Neal]] and was in episodes of ''[[Take Three Girls]]'', ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'', and ''[[Love Story (UK TV series)|Love Story]]''.
Clay had the starring role of [[Charles Darwin]] in ''[[The Darwin Adventure]]'' (1972) and was in ''William: The Life, Works and Times of William Shakespeare'' (1972). He was cast in several of [[Laurence Olivier]]'s [[Old Vic]] productions and during the 1970s came to be regarded as one of British theatre's most promising actors.<ref name=latimes/> Among his successes was ''[[The Misanthrope]]'', which led Clay to the United States, where he also played this role on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in 1975.<ref name="obit"/>

Clay had the starring role of [[Charles Darwin]] in ''[[The Darwin Adventure]]'' (1972) and was in ''William: The Life, Works and Times of William Shakespeare'' (1972). He was cast in several of [[Laurence Olivier]]'s [[Old Vic]] productions and during the 1970s came to be regarded as one of British theatre's most promising actors.<ref name=latimes/> At the National Theatre he played Aumerle in ''Richard II'', Giovanni in ''Tis Pity She's a Whore'' (directed by Roland Joffe), Nugget in ''Equus'', a Jumper in ''Jumpers'' (directed by Peter Wood), Rocca in ''Saturday Sunday Monday'' (directed by [[Franco Zeffirelli]]), Young Seward in ''Macbeth'' (directed by [[Michael Blakemore]]) and Acaste in ''The Misanthrope''. Blakemore also directed him in the part of Young Inna in Arturo Ui at Nottingham Playhouse, where Clay acted several roles in Jonathan Miller's production of King Lear. He played was Hastings in Clifford Williams's world tour of ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]''. ''[[The Misanthrope]]'' led Clay to the United States, where he also played this role on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in 1975.<ref name="obit"/> On the West End stage, Clay was Maurice in ''Flint'' (Criterion Theatre) and Trigorin in ''The Seagull'' (Cambridge Theatre).<ref>Obituaries; Nicholas Clay; British Actor Played Lancelot in 'Excalibur' Film: [Home Edition]
Los Angeles Times 23 June 2000: 6. </ref>


He appeared in ''[[In This House of Brede]]'' (1975) with [[Diana Rigg]] and played Alan in the 1976 version of ''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray (1976 TV)|The Picture of Dorian Gray]]'', alongside [[Peter Firth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b757b39fb|title=The Picture of Dorian Gray (1976)|publisher=}}</ref> Clay was in ''[[Terror of Frankenstein]]'' (1977) then did ''[[Saturday Sunday Monday]]'' (1978) with [[Laurence Olivier]].
He appeared in ''[[In This House of Brede]]'' (1975) with [[Diana Rigg]] and played Alan in the 1976 version of ''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray (1976 TV)|The Picture of Dorian Gray]]'', alongside [[Peter Firth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b757b39fb|title=The Picture of Dorian Gray (1976)|publisher=}}</ref> Clay was in ''[[Terror of Frankenstein]]'' (1977) then did ''[[Saturday Sunday Monday]]'' (1978) with [[Laurence Olivier]].
Line 34: Line 37:
Clay had a small role in ''[[Zulu Dawn]]'' (1979) and was in ''[[Lovespell]]'', filmed in 1979 but not released until 1981. He played [[Orestes]] in ''The Greeks: A Journey in Space and Time'' (1980).
Clay had a small role in ''[[Zulu Dawn]]'' (1979) and was in ''[[Lovespell]]'', filmed in 1979 but not released until 1981. He played [[Orestes]] in ''The Greeks: A Journey in Space and Time'' (1980).
===Stardom===
===Stardom===
In 1981 he gave his most widely-seen screen performance, as [[Lancelot]] in the 1981 film ''[[Excalibur (film)|Excalibur]]''.<ref name=latimes>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/23/local/me-43962|title=Nicholas Clay; British Actor Played Lancelot in 'Excalibur' Film|date=23 June 2000|publisher=|via=LA Times}}</ref> He followed it playing the title role in ''[[The Search for Alexander the Great]]'' (1981). He appeared in [[Just Jaeckin]]'s [[Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981 film)|film version]] of [[D.H. Lawrence]]'s ''[[Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981 film)|Lady Chatterley's Lover]]'' (1981), playing Mellors, and in [[Agatha Christie]]'s ''[[Evil Under the Sun (1982 film)|Evil Under the Sun]]'' (1982), the latter reuniting him with [[Diana Rigg]], his co-star in ''The Misanthrope''.<ref name="obit"/> Director of ''Evil'' [[Guy Hamilton]] said "I was looking for someone like [[Stewart Granger]] or [[Michael Rennie]] - handsome, dashing, physical, romantic. Nick has it all. A fine sense of timing, the right looks and a good physique." <ref>'EVIL'--AND FUN--'UNDER THE SUN'
In 1981 he gave his most widely-seen screen performance, as [[Lancelot]] in the 1981 film ''[[Excalibur (film)|Excalibur]]''.<ref name=latimes>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/23/local/me-43962|title=Nicholas Clay; British Actor Played Lancelot in 'Excalibur' Film|date=23 June 2000|publisher=|via=LA Times}}</ref> He followed it playing the title role in ''[[The Search for Alexander the Great]]'' (1981). He appeared in [[Just Jaeckin]]'s [[Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981 film)|film version]] of [[D.H. Lawrence]]'s ''[[Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981 film)|Lady Chatterley's Lover]]'' (1981), playing Mellors, and in [[Agatha Christie]]'s ''[[Evil Under the Sun (1982 film)|Evil Under the Sun]]'' (1982), the latter reuniting him with [[Diana Rigg]], his co-star in ''The Misanthrope''.<ref name="obit"/> Director of ''Evil'' [[Guy Hamilton]] said "I was looking for someone like [[Stewart Granger]] or [[Michael Rennie]] - handsome, dashing, physical, romantic. Nick has it all. A fine sense of timing, the right looks and a good physique." <ref>NICHOLAS CLAY: ROMANTIC REALIST: NICHOLAS CLAY
Mann, Roderick. Los Angeles Times 7 June 1981: m25.</ref>
Hall, William. Los Angeles Times 30 Aug 1981: k30. </ref>


For TV Clay was in ''The Agatha Christie Hour'' (1982), in an adaptation of "[[The Regatta Mystery|In a Glass Darkly]]" then ''Russian Night... 1941'' (1983), ''[[The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983 film)|The Hound of the Baskervilles]]'' (1983)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles-v23310/cast-crew|title=The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) - Douglas Hickox - Cast and Crew - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> and ''[[The Last Days of Pompeii (miniseries)|The Last Days of Pompeii]]'' (1984).
For TV Clay was in ''The Agatha Christie Hour'' (1982), in an adaptation of "[[The Regatta Mystery|In a Glass Darkly]]" then ''Russian Night... 1941'' (1983), ''[[The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983 film)|The Hound of the Baskervilles]]'' (1983)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles-v23310/cast-crew|title=The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) - Douglas Hickox - Cast and Crew - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> and ''[[The Last Days of Pompeii (miniseries)|The Last Days of Pompeii]]'' (1984).
Line 46: Line 49:
===Later Career===
===Later Career===
Later appearances included ''[[The New Adventures of Robin Hood]]'', ''[[Zorro (1990 TV series)|Zorro]]'', ''[[Kavanagh QC]]'', ''[[Shine on Harvey Moon]]'', ''[[The Odyssey (miniseries)|The Odyssey]]'', ''[[Shanghai 1937]]'', ''Bugs'', ''Highlander'', ''[[Psychos (TV series)|Psychos]]'' and playing Lord Leo in the 1998 TV miniseries ''[[Merlin (miniseries)|Merlin]]'' starring [[Sam Neill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/virtual-murder-tv-series-v274039|title=Virtual Murder [TV Series] (1992) - Philip Draycott, Peter Rose - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8129ef6e|title=Merlin (1998)|publisher=}}</ref>
Later appearances included ''[[The New Adventures of Robin Hood]]'', ''[[Zorro (1990 TV series)|Zorro]]'', ''[[Kavanagh QC]]'', ''[[Shine on Harvey Moon]]'', ''[[The Odyssey (miniseries)|The Odyssey]]'', ''[[Shanghai 1937]]'', ''Bugs'', ''Highlander'', ''[[Psychos (TV series)|Psychos]]'' and playing Lord Leo in the 1998 TV miniseries ''[[Merlin (miniseries)|Merlin]]'' starring [[Sam Neill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/virtual-murder-tv-series-v274039|title=Virtual Murder [TV Series] (1992) - Philip Draycott, Peter Rose - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8129ef6e|title=Merlin (1998)|publisher=}}</ref>
His final screen appearance was in [[Roger Ashton-Griffiths]]' short film ''And Beyond''.
His final screen appearance was in [[Roger Ashton-Griffiths]]' short film ''And Beyond''.<ref>Nicholas Clay: [1F Edition]
The Times 5 June 2000: 21</ref> Later theatre work included ''Design for Living'' (1995).


In the latter years Clay taught drama at the Actors' Centre and the Academy of Live and Performing Arts, and also worked in association with the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], generally in the role of promoting the organisation, or providing advice to acting students.<ref name="obit"/>
In the latter years Clay taught drama at the Actors' Centre and the Academy of Live and Performing Arts, and also worked in association with the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], generally in the role of promoting the organisation, or providing advice to acting students.<ref name="obit"/>

Revision as of 15:16, 4 May 2019

Nicholas Clay
as Sir Lancelot in Excalibur (1981)
Born
Nicholas Anthony Phillip Clay

(1946-09-18)18 September 1946
Streatham, London, England, UK
Died25 May 2000(2000-05-25) (aged 53)
London, England, UK
Resting placeSaint Peter's Churchyard, Sibton
Years active1961-2000
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1980)​
Children2

Nicholas Anthony Phillip Clay (18 September 1946 – 25 May 2000) was an English actor.[1][2]

Biography

Early life

Born in Streatham, London, on 18 September 1946, the son of a professional soldier in the British Army's Royal Engineers. The family settled in Kent where Clay became interested in acting, performing at the Little Medway Theatre Club.

Early Career

He had roles on TV in episodes of Ask Mr. Pastry (1961), ITV Television Playhouse, The Pocket Lancer (1961), and Tales of Mystery. He made his film debut with These Are the Damned (1962) and could be seen in Dixon of Dock Green, William, Sergeant Cork, and Drama 61-67. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).[3]

Early 1970s

Clay appeared in several West End theatre productions.[4] 

He returned to films with The Night Digger (1971), a horror movie with Patricia Neal and was in episodes of Take Three Girls, Armchair Theatre, and Love Story.

Clay had the starring role of Charles Darwin in The Darwin Adventure (1972) and was in William: The Life, Works and Times of William Shakespeare (1972). He was cast in several of Laurence Olivier's Old Vic productions and during the 1970s came to be regarded as one of British theatre's most promising actors.[5] At the National Theatre he played Aumerle in Richard II, Giovanni in Tis Pity She's a Whore (directed by Roland Joffe), Nugget in Equus, a Jumper in Jumpers (directed by Peter Wood), Rocca in Saturday Sunday Monday (directed by Franco Zeffirelli), Young Seward in Macbeth (directed by Michael Blakemore) and Acaste in The Misanthrope. Blakemore also directed him in the part of Young Inna in Arturo Ui at Nottingham Playhouse, where Clay acted several roles in Jonathan Miller's production of King Lear. He played was Hastings in Clifford Williams's world tour of She Stoops to Conquer. The Misanthrope led Clay to the United States, where he also played this role on Broadway in 1975.[3] On the West End stage, Clay was Maurice in Flint (Criterion Theatre) and Trigorin in The Seagull (Cambridge Theatre).[6]

He appeared in In This House of Brede (1975) with Diana Rigg and played Alan in the 1976 version of The Picture of Dorian Gray, alongside Peter Firth.[7] Clay was in Terror of Frankenstein (1977) then did Saturday Sunday Monday (1978) with Laurence Olivier.

In 1978 he played Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton in the drama series Will Shakespeare, about the life of Shakespeare.[3]

Clay had a small role in Zulu Dawn (1979) and was in Lovespell, filmed in 1979 but not released until 1981. He played Orestes in The Greeks: A Journey in Space and Time (1980).

Stardom

In 1981 he gave his most widely-seen screen performance, as Lancelot in the 1981 film Excalibur.[5] He followed it playing the title role in The Search for Alexander the Great (1981). He appeared in Just Jaeckin's film version of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981), playing Mellors, and in Agatha Christie's Evil Under the Sun (1982), the latter reuniting him with Diana Rigg, his co-star in The Misanthrope.[3] Director of Evil Guy Hamilton said "I was looking for someone like Stewart Granger or Michael Rennie - handsome, dashing, physical, romantic. Nick has it all. A fine sense of timing, the right looks and a good physique." [8]

For TV Clay was in The Agatha Christie Hour (1982), in an adaptation of "In a Glass Darkly" then Russian Night... 1941 (1983), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983)[9] and The Last Days of Pompeii (1984).

Clay continued working regularly on stage and appeared in a number of made-for-television films and miniseries. In 1984 he played Mike Preston in the Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense episode "Child's Play".[10] He did Das Martyrium des heiligen Sebastian (1984) in Germany and The Corsican Brothers (1985) for TV. Clay was Doctor Percy Trevelyan in an episode of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes entitled "The Resident Patient".[11]

Supporting Actor

Clay had support parts in Sleeping Beauty (1987), Lionheart (1987) and Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story (1987). He also appeared in the UK ITV series Gentlemen and Players in 1988-89.[12]

In 1992 he appeared with Kim Thomson in the BBC TV series Virtual Murder.

Later Career

Later appearances included The New Adventures of Robin Hood, Zorro, Kavanagh QC, Shine on Harvey Moon, The Odyssey, Shanghai 1937, Bugs, Highlander, Psychos and playing Lord Leo in the 1998 TV miniseries Merlin starring Sam Neill.[13][14] His final screen appearance was in Roger Ashton-Griffiths' short film And Beyond.[15] Later theatre work included Design for Living (1995).

In the latter years Clay taught drama at the Actors' Centre and the Academy of Live and Performing Arts, and also worked in association with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, generally in the role of promoting the organisation, or providing advice to acting students.[3]

Death

Clay died in London on 25 May 2000 at the age of 53 years old, from the effects of cancer of the liver.[3] His body was buried in the graveyard of St. Peter's Church, in the village of Sibton in the county of Suffolk.[16]

Personal life

Clay married actress Lorna Heilbron in 1980.[17] He was survived by his wife, his daughters, Ella (born 1983) and Madge (born 1986), and his mother, Rose.[3]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes References
1963 The Damned Richard
1971 The Night Digger aka The Road Builder Billy Jarvis
1972 The Darwin Adventure Charles Darwin
1977 Terror of Frankenstein Henry Clerval
1979 Zulu Dawn Lt. Raw
1981 Excalibur Lancelot
1981 Lady Chatterley's Lover Oliver Mellors
1981 Lovespell Tristan
1982 Evil Under the Sun Patrick Redfern
1987 Sleeping Beauty The Prince
1987 Lionheart Charles De Montfort

Television

Year Title Role Notes References
1978 Will Shakespeare Earl of Southampton Television miniseries
1981 The Search for Alexander the Great Alexander the Great TV miniseries
1983 The Hound of the Baskervilles Jack Stapleton TV movie
1984 The Last Days of Pompeii Glaucus TV miniseries
1985 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Percy Trevelyan Episode: "The Resident Patient"
1987 Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story Prince Alexis Mdivani TV movie
1988 Gentlemen and Players Mike Savage
1991 Zorro Viscount Armand de Jussac 2 episodes
1992 Virtual Murder Dr. John Cornelius
1995 Shine on Harvey Moon Squadron Leader Cunningham 4 episodes
1997 The Odyssey Menelaus TV miniseries
The New Adventures of Robin Hood Sheriff of Nottingham 2 episodes
1998 Merlin Lord Leo TV miniseries
1999 Psychos Dr. Angus Harvey 6 episodes

References

  1. ^ "Nicholas Clay".
  2. ^ McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). "The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition". Oxford University Press – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Nicholas Clay". The Guardian. Manchester: Guardian.co.uk. 30 May 2000. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  4. ^ "Nicholas Clay - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  5. ^ a b "Nicholas Clay; British Actor Played Lancelot in 'Excalibur' Film". 23 June 2000 – via LA Times.
  6. ^ Obituaries; Nicholas Clay; British Actor Played Lancelot in 'Excalibur' Film: [Home Edition] Los Angeles Times 23 June 2000: 6.
  7. ^ "The Picture of Dorian Gray (1976)".
  8. ^ NICHOLAS CLAY: ROMANTIC REALIST: NICHOLAS CLAY Hall, William. Los Angeles Times 30 Aug 1981: k30.
  9. ^ "The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) - Douglas Hickox - Cast and Crew - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  10. ^ "Child's Play (1986)".
  11. ^ "The Resident Patient (1985)".
  12. ^ "Gentlemen and Players". www.mediagems.de.
  13. ^ "Virtual Murder [TV Series] (1992) - Philip Draycott, Peter Rose - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  14. ^ "Merlin (1998)".
  15. ^ Nicholas Clay: [1F Edition] The Times 5 June 2000: 21
  16. ^ Entry for the grave of Nicholas Clay in the Findagrave website (2019). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48221905/nicholas-anthony_philip-clay
  17. ^ "Nicholas Clay". 30 May 2000 – via The Guardian.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicholas_Clay&oldid=895481774"