Oliver Reed

Biography

Oliver Reed was an English actor whose screen career ran for more than four decades, from the mid-1950s until his death in 1999. Born in Wimbledon, he began as an uncredited film extra before Hammer Films gave him his first starring role in The Curse of the Werewolf (1961). The British Film Institute tied his emergence as a British screen icon to his work with directors Michael Winner and Ken Russell, and he was particularly known for forceful, villainous parts: Bill Sikes in Oliver! (1968), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Father Urbain Grandier in The Devils (1971), and Athos in The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974). Other credits included The Trap (1966), Tommy (1975), The Brood (1979) and Funny Bones (1995). For Gladiator (2000), released after his death, he earned a posthumous BAFTA nomination in the supporting actor category.

61years old at death

Born February 13, 1938Wimbledon
Died May 2, 1999Valletta
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Robert Oliver Reed (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 53
Career span: 40 years1960 to 2000

Genres

Adventure38%, 20 films
Drama38%, 20 films
Comedy26%, 14 films
Horror23%, 12 films
Action15%, 8 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Reed got his first break playing Richard of Gloucester in The Golden Spur, a six-part BBC TV series from 1959. It appeared to do nothing for his career right away.
Beyond film
Reed released several pop singles, including "Wild One" in 1961 and a 1992 duet of "Wild Thing" with snooker player Alex Higgins, though they had limited success.

Oliver Reed movies on Netflix

Gladiator2000IMDb rating 8.5as Proximo
Jeremiah1998IMDb rating 6.9as General Safan
Funny Bones1995IMDb rating 6.7as Dolly Hopkins
The Pit and the Pendulum1991IMDb rating 6.0as Cardinal
Treasure Island1990IMDb rating 7.0as Billy Bones
The Return of the Musketeers1989IMDb rating 5.9as Athos
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988IMDb rating 7.1as Vulcan
Gor1987IMDb rating 3.6as Sarm
The Misfit Brigade1987IMDb rating 5.7as The General
Castaway1986IMDb rating 5.8as Gerald Kingsland
Spasms1983IMDb rating 4.4as Jason Kincaid
The Sting II1983IMDb rating 4.9as Lonnegan
Two of a Kind1983IMDb rating 4.8as Beasley
Condorman1981IMDb rating 5.7as Krokov
Lion of the Desert1981IMDb rating 8.2as Gen. Rodolfo Graziani
Venom1981IMDb rating 5.8as Dave Averconnelly
The Brood1979IMDb rating 6.8as Dr. Hal Raglan
The Big Sleep1978IMDb rating 5.8as Eddie Mars
Crossed Swords1977IMDb rating 6.3as Miles Hendon
The Ransom1977IMDb rating 5.1as Nick McCormick
Burnt Offerings1976IMDb rating 6.4as Ben Rolf
The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday1976IMDb rating 6.1as Joe Knox
Lisztomania1975IMDb rating 6.1as Princess Carolyn's Servant
Royal Flash1975IMDb rating 6.3as Otto von Bismarck
Tommy1975IMDb rating 6.6as Frank
Blue Blood1974IMDb rating 4.5as Tom the butler
Ten Little Indians1974IMDb rating 5.7as Hugh Lombard
The Four Musketeers1974IMDb rating 6.9as Athos
The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1as Athos
Sitting Target1972IMDb rating 6.6as Harry Lomart
The Triple Echo1972IMDb rating 6.4as Arthur, the Sergeant
Z.P.G.1972IMDb rating 5.6as Russ McNeil
The Devils1971IMDb rating 7.7as Urbain Grandier
The Hunting Party1971IMDb rating 6.2as Frank Calder
Hannibal Brooks1969IMDb rating 6.6as Stephen 'Hannibal' Brooks
The Assassination Bureau1969IMDb rating 6.4as Ivan Dragomiloff
Oliver!1968IMDb rating 7.4as Bill Sikes
I'll Never Forget What's'isname1967IMDb rating 6.2as Andrew Quint
The Jokers1967IMDb rating 6.5as David Tremayne
The Shuttered Room1967IMDb rating 5.8as Ethan
The Trap1966IMDb rating 7.1as La Bete
The Brigand of Kandahar1965IMDb rating 5.4as Ali Kahn
The Party's Over1965IMDb rating 6.3as Moise
Paranoiac1963IMDb rating 6.7as Simon Ashby
The Scarlet Blade1963IMDb rating 5.7as Captain Sylvester
Captain Clegg1962IMDb rating 6.6as Harry Cobtree
The Damned1962IMDb rating 6.6as King
The Pirates of Blood River1962IMDb rating 5.9as Pirate Brocaire
The Curse of the Werewolf1961IMDb rating 6.5as Leon
Beat Girl1960IMDb rating 5.9as Plaid Shirt
Sword of Sherwood Forest1960IMDb rating 5.8as Lord Melton
The Angry Silence1960IMDb rating 7.2as Mick
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll1960IMDb rating 6.3as Nightclub Bouncer

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Gladiator2000 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Proximo
IMDb rating 8.51.9M votes
The Brood1979 Horror, Sci-Fias Dr. Hal Raglan
IMDb rating 6.839K votes
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988as Vulcan
IMDb rating 7.160K votes
Oliver!1968as Bill Sikes
IMDb rating 7.445K votes
Tommy1975as Frank
IMDb rating 6.625K votes
The Three Musketeers1973as Athos
IMDb rating 7.121K votes
The Four Musketeers1974as Athos
IMDb rating 6.913K votes
The Devils1971as Urbain Grandier
IMDb rating 7.722K votes

Most often with

Richard Lester directed four of these films, Michael Winner four and Ken Russell three. Christopher Lee appears in seven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Christopher Lee

Frank Finlay

Charlton Heston

Geraldine Chaplin

Harry Andrews

Michael Ripper

Richard LesterDirector, 4 films

Michael WinnerDirector, 4 films

Ken RussellDirector, 3 films

Films together

Christopher Lee7 films together, 1960 to 1990
Christopher Lee's page
- Treasure Island1990IMDb rating 7.0Reed as Billy BonesLee as Blind Pew
- The Return of the Musketeers1989IMDb rating 5.9Reed as AthosLee as Rochefort
- The Four Musketeers1974IMDb rating 6.9Reed as AthosLee as Rochefort
- The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1Reed as AthosLee as Rochefort
- The Pirates of Blood River1962IMDb rating 5.9Reed as Pirate BrocaireLee as Captain LaRoche
- Beat Girl1960IMDb rating 5.9Reed as Plaid ShirtLee as Kenny King
- The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll1960IMDb rating 6.3Reed as Nightclub BouncerLee as Paul Allen
Frank Finlay6 films together, 1967 to 1989
Frank Finlay's page
- The Return of the Musketeers1989IMDb rating 5.9Reed as AthosFinlay as Porthos
- The Four Musketeers1974IMDb rating 6.9Reed as AthosFinlay as Porthos
- The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1Reed as AthosFinlay as Porthos / O'Reilly
- Sitting Target1972IMDb rating 6.6Reed as Harry LomartFinlay as Marty Gold
- I'll Never Forget What's'isname1967IMDb rating 6.2Reed as Andrew QuintFinlay as Chaplain
- The Jokers1967IMDb rating 6.5Reed as David TremayneFinlay as Harrassed man
Charlton Heston4 films together, 1973 to 1990
Charlton Heston's page
- Treasure Island1990IMDb rating 7.0Reed as Billy BonesHeston as Long John Silver
- Crossed Swords1977IMDb rating 6.3Reed as Miles HendonHeston as Henry VIII
- The Four Musketeers1974IMDb rating 6.9Reed as AthosHeston as Cardinal Richelieu
- The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1Reed as AthosHeston as Cardinal Richelieu
Geraldine Chaplin4 films together, 1972 to 1989
Geraldine Chaplin's page
- The Return of the Musketeers1989IMDb rating 5.9Reed as AthosChaplin as Queen Anne
- The Four Musketeers1974IMDb rating 6.9Reed as AthosChaplin as Queen Anne of Austria
- The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1Reed as AthosChaplin as Anna of Austria
- Z.P.G.1972IMDb rating 5.6Reed as Russ McNeilChaplin as Carol McNeil
Harry Andrews4 films together, 1967 to 1978
Harry Andrews's page
- The Big Sleep1978IMDb rating 5.8Reed as Eddie MarsAndrews as Norris
- Crossed Swords1977IMDb rating 6.3Reed as Miles HendonAndrews as Hertford
- I'll Never Forget What's'isname1967IMDb rating 6.2Reed as Andrew QuintAndrews as Gerald Sater
- The Jokers1967IMDb rating 6.5Reed as David TremayneAndrews as Insp. Marryatt
Michael Ripper4 films together, 1961 to 1963
Michael Ripper's page
- The Scarlet Blade1963IMDb rating 5.7Reed as Captain SylvesterRipper as Pablo
- Captain Clegg1962IMDb rating 6.6Reed as Harry CobtreeRipper as Jeremiah Mipps
- The Pirates of Blood River1962IMDb rating 5.9Reed as Pirate BrocaireRipper as First Mate Mack
- The Curse of the Werewolf1961IMDb rating 6.5Reed as LeonRipper as Old Soak
Richard LesterDirector, 4 films, 1973 to 1989
All films by Richard Lester
- The Return of the Musketeers1989IMDb rating 5.9Reed as Athos
- Royal Flash1975IMDb rating 6.3Reed as Otto von Bismarck
- The Four Musketeers1974IMDb rating 6.9Reed as Athos
- The Three Musketeers1973IMDb rating 7.1Reed as Athos
Michael WinnerDirector, 4 films, 1967 to 1978
All films by Michael Winner
- The Big Sleep1978IMDb rating 5.8Reed as Eddie Mars
- Hannibal Brooks1969IMDb rating 6.6Reed as Stephen 'Hannibal' Brooks
- I'll Never Forget What's'isname1967IMDb rating 6.2Reed as Andrew Quint
- The Jokers1967IMDb rating 6.5Reed as David Tremayne
Ken RussellDirector, 3 films, 1971 to 1975
All films by Ken Russell
- Lisztomania1975IMDb rating 6.1Reed as Princess Carolyn's Servant
- Tommy1975IMDb rating 6.6Reed as Frank
- The Devils1971IMDb rating 7.7Reed as Urbain Grandier