Denis Quilley
Biography
Denis Quilley was an English actor and singer who grew up in London with no theatrical family background and was determined from an early age to act, joining the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in his teens. After army national service he began a West End career in 1950, succeeding Richard Burton in The Lady's Not For Burning. He became a leading actor in the 1960s and spent the early 1970s with the National Theatre company, where he played Caliban in The Tempest. Musicals brought him two Society of West End Theatre Awards, for the central role in Privates on Parade in 1977 and for the title part in Sweeney Todd, and he later played Georges in La Cage aux Folles. He reprised the Privates on Parade role in the film version (1983). On screen he was also Antonio Foscarelli in Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and the prophet Samuel in King David (1985).
75years old at death
- Born London
- Died London
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Also credited as Denis Clifford Quilley
Movie Career
- Films
- 7
- Career span
- 20 years1965 to 1985
First and latest
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First role
Quilley began his stage career during the 1945 season with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company. That company, he remembered, included Paul Scofield, Stanley Baker, Paul Eddington, Alun Owen and a 20-year-old director, Peter Brook.
A role that slipped away
After leaving the forces, Quilley first appeared in London in 1950 at the Globe. There he replaced Richard Burton as Richard in John Gielgud's production of The Lady's Not For Burning, having understudied Burton early in the run.
A role that slipped away
Quilley initially turned down the role of Captain Terri Dennis in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Privates On Parade in 1977, then changed his mind and won the Society of West End Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
A first
At the National Theatre, where he appeared from the 1970s onward, Quilley took on 28 roles. He was last on stage in 2002, playing the bibulous tycoon Elisha Whitney in Anything Goes at the Olivier Theatre.
Denis Quilley movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Three actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Vernon Dobtcheff's page
Colin Blakely's page
Joseph O'Conor's page
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Laurence Olivier Awards | Won | ||
| Officer of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.