British actor Nigel Terry dedicated his career primarily to the classical stage, extending his talent into film and television, mostly for historical or period roles. Over the years, he grew comfortable in a variety of roles, from wearing a pair of hose to a suit of armor.
Born Peter Nigel Terry on August 15, 1945, in Bristol, England, to Doreen Beatrice (Such) and Frank Albert Terry, an RAF pilot, Terry trained with several repertory companies, including the Oxford Meadow Players and Bristol Old Vic, where he appeared in notable works such as "Volpone", "Right You Are", "The Balcony", "Richard II" and "Two Gentlemen from Verona".
Throughout his career, Terry appeared extensively with the Royal Shakespearean Company, the Round House Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre, showcasing his brilliance in his film debut as the drooling, moronic and cowardly "Prince John" in The Lion in Winter (1968),opposite a star-studded cast including Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn and Anthony Hopkins.
Despite his impressive film debut, Terry continued to focus on the repertory stage, taking on sterling roles in "She Stoops to Conquer", "'Tis Pity She's a Whore", "Queen Christina", "Look Out...Here Comes Trouble", "The Suicide" and "A Month in the Country".
Thirteen years after his film debut, Terry returned to the cinema in John Boorman's medieval epic Excalibur (1981) as "King Arthur", who evolved from a humbling, bumbling squire to a noble and rather melancholy ruler throughout the course of the film. This role sparked more on-camera work, earning him kudos for his portrayal of the title role in Derek Jarman's Caravaggio (1986) and subsequent appearances in Jarman's films, including The Last of England (1987),War Requiem (1989),Edward II (1991) and Blue (1993).
Nigel also became a familiar face on British television, starring in the US/British series Covington Cross (1992) as "Sir Thomas Gray", a medieval knight, and creating fascinating character portraits in the plush TV costumers The Mushroom Picker (1993),Far from the Madding Crowd (1998) and Crime & Punishment (2002).
In the 2000s, Terry appeared in films such as The Emperor's New Clothes (2001),Feardotcom (2002) and the Brad Pitt epic Troy (2004).
Nigel Terry passed away on April 30, 2015.
