Nigel Terry

It seems that Nigel Terry, who played King Arthur in John Boorman's film Excalibur (1981), has died. From what I gather, most of his work was in the theatre, but Excalibur is one of my favourite films and, of all the versions I've seen, the closest to capturing the feel of the Arthurian myths - at least, for me. I would reccomend it highly, not least because Terry not only has an English accent, but a West Country one.

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/may/03/nigel-terry

Very sad news. Excalibur has always been one of my favourite films and I thought he made a great King Arthur.

He also appeared in an episode of Highlander The Series - which I thought was funny, because it seemed as though they were hiring anyone who might have had experience with a sword for some reason....

Oh, what a great pity. I thought he was marvellous in Excalibur -- I found him fully convincing as the rather rash teenager, and I see on checking the dates he must have been fully 35 at the time of shooting it. He grows in stature as he ages in the film, and I love his farewell to Guinevere when he accepts he was at fault. But then, there's hardly a duff moment in the whole film (the one exception being the actress playing his mother who ruins every scene she's in...).

I also loved him in A Lion in Winter as the perfidious John -- another excellent film with a great cast. I never saw him in the theatre, and having read the obit my mouth waters at the thought of him playing Bosola and Benedick.

Perpetual Man said:

anyone who might have had experience with a sword

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Not just a sword, but the sword of power! Forged when bird and beast and man were one, and death was but a dream!

I'd forgotten just how much of Excalibur I can quote. I just listened to Siegfried's Funeral March, and felt very nostalgic. IIRC, TJ, Arthur's mother was related to the director - purely by coincidence.

Yes, I recalled her name was also Boorman, and I see she was actually his daughter. It's nice he wanted to help her in her acting career. Pity he couldn't have done it in another film.

Toby Frost said:

Forged when bird and beast and man were one, and death was but a dream!

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I can't quote much of it**, but reading that line I can hear Nicol Williamson's voice.

I shall get out the Wagner later, I think, and have a good wallow with the Tristan und Isolde. Actually, I might unearth the old video cassette we should have lurking around the house and watch the film again.


** I'm restricted to "Good and evil. There never is one without the other."

I don't think I'll ever work out whether Nicol Williamson's acting in Excalibur was great or just terrible on an epic scale. Whatever it is, it works.

He was so wonderful in the role of Arthur . Very sad news.

It is sad news. Excalibur is a personal favourite. I also remember a role he had in an underrated TV series called Covington Cross.

svalbard said:

It is sad news. Excalibur is a personal favourite. I also remember a role he had in an underrated TV series called Covington Cross.

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That was a good series , too bad it didn't find an audience.