Alan Bates

Sir Alan Arthur Bates CBE (February 17, 1934 – December 27, 2003) was an English actor.

Born in Allestree, Derby, Bates was the son of amateur musicians who early encouraged him to pursue music; but by age 11, he already had determined his life's course as an actor, and so his parents sent him for dramatic coaching instead. He earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where he studied before leaving to join the Royal Air Force. In 1956, he debuted on stage in the West End, starring in Look Back in Anger, a role which made him a star. Four years later, he appeared in The Entertainer, his first film role. He soon starred in Whistle Down the Wind, Phillipe de Brocca's King of Hearts, and in the Bernard Malamud film The Fixer, which gave him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

He was married to the actress Victoria Ward from 1970 until her death of a suspected heart attack (following a wasting disease) in 1992. They had twin sons born in 1971, the actors Benedick Bates and Tristan Bates, who died of an asthma attack in Tokyo in 1990 at the age of 19.

He is the winner of two Tony Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. He won his first in 1973 for his role in Butley. 29 years later, he won his second statuette for Fortune's Fool, just one year before his death.

Bates starred in such international hit films as Georgy Girl, Far From the Madding Crowd, Zorba the Greek, The Go-Between, An Unmarried Woman and Women in Love, but he consciously decided to concentrate on a few well-defined roles, rather than to take everything that came his way. On television, his parts ranged from classic roles such as The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978) to Guy Burgess in An Englishman Abroad (1983) to a Russian spy in Pack of Lies (1987) to the storyteller in the 2000 version of the Arabian Nights.

On stage, Bates had a particular association with the plays of Simon Gray, appearing in Butley, Otherwise Engaged, Stage Struck, Melon, Life Support and Simply Disconnected, as well as the film of Butley and Gray's TV series Unnatural Pursuits.

Bates was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1996, and was knighted in 2003.

His companion at the end of his life was actress Joanna Pettet; he died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 69.

Bates played Antonius Agrippa in the 2004 Tv film Spartacus, but died before it debuted. It was dedicated to his memory and that of writer Howard Fast, who wrote the original novel that inspired the film Spartacus by Stanley Kubrick.

Trivia

Patron of The Actors Centre, Covent Garden, London from 1994 until his death in 2003. (previous Patrons: Lord Olivier, Sir Alec Guinness)

Theatre Awards: 2002: Best Actor Tony and Drama Desk, for "Fortune's Fool;" 2000, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award for "Unexpected Man;" 1983 Variety Club Award for "A Patriot for Me;" 1975 Variety Club Award for "Otherwise Engaged;" 1971 Evening Standard Best Actor Award for "Butley;" 1972 Best Actor Tony for "Butley;" 1959 Clarence Derwent Award for "A Long Day's Journey Into Night"

He was awarded with a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List in 2003.

Had twin sons, Benedick Bates and Tristan. In 1990, Tristan died of an asthma attack in Tokyo, where he had a modeling job.

Eldest of three brothers from an artistic family: his two brothers are artists, his father was a fine cellist, and his mother a pianist who had studied in Paris. His father supported the family by working in the insurance business.

Was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1995.

His wife, the actress and model Victoria Ward, died from a suspected heart attack, following a wasting disease, in 1992.

He had one granddaughter, Chatto Bates.

In 1969, along Oliver Reed became the first actor to do frontal nudity in a major studio motion picture, in Ken Russell's Women in Love.

He was an Associate Member of RADA.

Won two Tony Awards for his only two nominations: in 1973, as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Butley," a performance he recreated in the film version of the same name, Butley (1974) , and in 2002, as Best Actor (Play) for "Fortune's Fool."

He was separated from his wife, Victoria Ward, at the time of his son Tristan's death. They were on good terms till her death, in 1992.

His companion and lover towards the end of his life was his lifelong friend, actress Joanna Pettet, his co-star in 1964's Broadway play "Poor Richard". They split their time both in New York and London.

Worked for the Padded Wagon Moving Co. in the early 1960s while acting at the Circle in the Square Theater in New York City.

Handpicked by director John Schlesinger to star in the film Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) in the role of Dr. Daniel Hirsh. Even though he wanted the part very much, Bates was held up filming The Go-Between (1970) for director Joseph Losey and also became a father around that time, so he had to pass on the project, with regrets. The part then went first to Ian Bannen who balked at kissing and simulating sex with other man and was fired and then to Peter Finch, who earned an Academy Award nomination.

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