Michael Gothard
Biography
Michael Gothard was an English actor, born in London in 1939, who began as a scenery mover at the New Arts Theatre, landed a lead in an amateur film, and studied at an actors' workshop in the evenings. His first television part came in 1966 on Out of the Unknown, followed by roles in Herostratus and Up the Junction. His portrayal of Keith, a nightclubbing killer, in Scream and Scream Again (1970) was a break-out role and led to better parts, among them a fanatic witch-hunter in The Devils (1971) and John Felton in The Four Musketeers (1974). On television he played Kai opposite Oliver Tobias's King Arthur in Arthur of the Britons. A wider cinema audience knew him as the non-speaking Belgian henchman Emile Leopold Locque in the 1981 Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Later parts included Lifeforce (1985), and his last role was in Frankenstein (1992), the year he died.
53years old at death
- Born London
- Died Hampstead
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- Michael Alan Gothard (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 11
- Career span
- 22 years1970 to 1992
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Getting ready for a role
Gothard suggested the octagonal glasses worn by his non-speaking Bond henchman Emile Leopold Locque in For Your Eyes Only, hoping the detail would make the character more menacing.
Big break
Gothard played Keith, a nightclubbing killer, in Scream and Scream Again, which Gordon Hessler directed. The part was a break-out role that gave him exposure and led to more prominent parts.
Own stunts
Michael Gothard agreed to do the cliff-walking himself, without a double. Gordon Hessler came up with an overhead cable to give the illusion of him walking up the cliff.
First role
Gothard began at the New Arts Theatre moving scenery, then landed the lead in an amateur film a friend was making, which pushed him toward acting.
Early training
Gothard trained by taking evening classes at an actors' workshop, and he did this while also working a day job.
A change of course
Before acting, Gothard worked as a building laborer, a trainee reporter and briefly a clothes model, a job he disliked.
Michael Gothard movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Five 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
Christopher Lee's page
Oliver Reed's page
Julian Glover's page
Frank Finlay's page
George Innes's page
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.