Brian Blessed, a larger-than-life British actor, is renowned for his bold, king-sized portrayals on film and television. Born in 1936 in the mining village of Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire, he was raised by a miner who aspired for a better life for his son, and tragically lost three uncles in the pit. From a young age, Brian showcased an innate talent for acting in school productions, and also demonstrated a brief interest in boxing.
Brian's early career was marked by a variety of blue-collar jobs, including working as an undertaker's assistant and a plasterer. He eventually attended the Bristol Old Vic, and his professional journey began. With a rich musical background, Brian has lent his talents to several productions, including playing "Old Deuteronomy" in "Cats" and "The Baron" in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".
In the 1970s, Brian started to appear more frequently on television, taking on both classical and contemporary roles. His notable performances in costumed television movies include "Porthos" in "The Three Musketeers" (1966) and "The Further Adventures of the Musketeers" (1967),"Augustus" in "I, Claudius" (1976),and "Long John Silver" in "Return to Treasure Island" (1986). He has also been part of various reenactments, such as "Catherine the Great" (1995),"Lady Chatterley" (1993),"The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1983),and "Kidnapped" (1995).
On film, Brian has appeared in several William Shakespeare adaptations, including "Henry V" (1989),"Much Ado About Nothing" (1993),"Hamlet" (1996),"Macbeth" (1997),and the title role in "King Lear" (1999),which he also directed. More recently, he has appeared in "Alexander" (2004) and "As You Like It" (2006).
In recent years, Brian has been heard more than seen, with voice work in video games, documentaries, and animated TV programs such as "Kika & Bob" (2007),"The Amazing World of Gumball" (2011),"Wizards vs. Aliens" (2012),"Henry Hugglemonster" (2013),and "Peppa Pig" (2004).
Brian is married to British actress Hildegard Neil, who appeared alongside him in "Macbeth" (1997).
