Colin Jeavons, a renowned Welsh actor, has had a distinguished career in both television and theatre. He is perhaps best known for his numerous portrayals of deceptively mild-mannered characters in BBC literary adaptations from the 1960s and 1970s.
Jeavons' first notable role was as the unscrupulous George Wickham in the 1958 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. He went on to play a wide range of characters, including Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations, Richard Carstone in Bleak House, Uriah Heep in David Copperfield, and Sampson Brass in The Old Curiosity Shop.
Jeavons also appeared in various other classic BBC productions, including The Life and Death of Sir John Falstaff, The Shadow of the Tower, Jane Eyre, and The Baker Street Boys. In the latter, he played the iconic role of Professor Moriarty, and his performance was praised by novelist and Holmes expert David Stuart Davies, who noted that Jeavons "humanised and enhanced Doyle's sketchy portrait of the Inspector."
In addition to his work in television, Jeavons has had a successful career in theatre. He has performed with various companies, including the Royal Court Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has appeared in a wide range of productions, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Jeavons has also branched out into other genres, including science fiction, and has appeared in a number of films, including The Oblong Box, Bartleby, and The French Lieutenant's Woman. He has also had a long-running role in the children's series Jackanory, playing various characters and serving as a storyteller.
Throughout his career, Jeavons has been praised for his versatility and ability to bring depth and nuance to his characters. He has been married to the ballet dancer Rosie Jeavons, who passed away in 2018, and has been retired from acting since 1993.
