Brian Murray (actor)
South African actor (1937–2018)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Murray (né Bell; 10 September 1937 – 20 August 2018)[1] was a South African actor and theatre director who was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2004.
10 September 1937
Brian Murray | |
|---|---|
Murray in 2007 | |
| Born | Brian Bell 10 September 1937 Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Died | 20 August 2018 (aged 80) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations | Actor, theatre director |
| Years active | 1958–2018 |
Biography
Murray was born Brian Bell in Johannesburg, the son of Mary Dickson (née Murray) and Alfred Bell, a professional golfer.[2]
Career
Murray made his Broadway debut in the play All in Good Time in 1965.[3] In 1967, he starred as Rosencrantz in the Broadway production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, earning the first of three Tony Awards, Best Featured Actor In A Play nominations for his performance. [3] [4]
Murray directed the 1973 Broadway revival of The Waltz of the Toreadors.[5] His stage directing credits include Broadway revivals of Hay Fever (1985), Arsenic and Old Lace (1986), Blithe Spirit (1987), and The Show Off (1992).[3]
In 1998, he received the Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding body of work.[6]
His film credits include Bob Roberts and City Hall,[7] as well as the films of American independent filmmaker Patrick Wang. On television he has appeared in Kojak, Another World, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and 30 Rock.[8] In the 1970s and 1980s, he performed in a number of radio plays for Yuri Rasovsky's award-winning National Radio Theater.[9] In 2002, he provided the voice of John Silver in the Disney animated Treasure Planet, a role he reprised in the video game Treasure Planet: Battle at Procyon. He played a role in the 2009 film, My Dog Tulip.[10]
Death
Murray died of natural causes on 20 August 2018, at age 80.[9]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Angry Silence[11] | Gladys | |
| The League of Gentlemen[12] | Private "Chunky" Grogan | ||
| 1992 | Bob Roberts | Terry Manchester | |
| 1996 | City Hall | Corporation Counsel | |
| 2002 | Treasure Planet[13] | Long John Silver | Voice |
| 2009 | My Dog Tulip[13][14] | Captain Pugh, Mr Blandish | |
| 2011 | Dream House | Dr. Medlin | |
| In the Family | Paul Hawks | ||
| 2018 | A Bread Factory | Sir Walter | Posthumous release; final film role |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959–1966 | ITV Play of the Week | John Clegg, PC Bernard Wall | Episodes: "Sugar in the Morning" & "Blue as His Eyes, the Tin Helmet He Wore" |
| 1959 | Saturday Playhouse | Stevens | Episode: "The Larford Lad" |
| Emergency – Ward 10 | Joe Masters | 3 Episodes | |
| 1960 | No Hiding Place | Chopper Green | Episode: "The Long Day" |
| 1963 | The Plane Makers | Tom Barnsley | Episode: "Point of Contact" |
| 1964 | Drama 61-67 | Cpl. Parker, David Potter | Episodes: "Drama '64: Across the Border" & "Studio '64: The Happy Moorings" |
| 1976 | Kojak | Caesar Ogilvy | Episode: "A Summer Madness" |
| 1978–1979 | Another World | Dr. Dan Shearer #2 | Unknown episodes |
| 1990 | Great Performances | Claudius | Episode: "Hamlet" |
| 2004 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Richard Sullivan | Episode: "The Saint" |
| 2007 | 30 Rock | Jack's Dad | Episode: "The Fighting Irish" |
| American Experience | Gouverneur Morris | Episode: "Alexander Hamilton" | |
| 2011 | The Good Wife | Judge Mowbray | Episode: "The Death Zone" |
| Person of Interest | Robert Keller | Episode: "The Fix" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Treasure Planet | Long John Silver | Voice |
| Treasure Planet: Battle at Procyon[13] | John Silver / Robot Silver |
Broadway
- Sleuth (1973)
- Da (1978)
- The Arcata Promise (1982)
- Noises Off (1983)
- A Small Family Business (1992)
- The Little Foxes (1997)
- Twelfth Night (1998)
- Uncle Vanya (2000)
- The Crucible (2002)
- The Rivals (2004)
Radio drama
- A Tale of Two Cities (1977)
- The Man of Destiny (1978)
- The Killer (1979)
- Medea (1985)
- The Tempest (1985)
- The Imaginary Invalid (1985)
- The Lady of the Camellias (1985)
- An Enemy of the People (1985)
- Arms and the Man (1985)
- Uncle Vanya (1985)
Awards and nominations
- Awards
- 1984: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Work – Noises Off
- 1997: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play – The Little Foxes
- Nominations
- 1968: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
- 1978: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play – Da
- 1992: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play – A Small Family Business
- 1997: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play – The Little Foxes
- 2000: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play – Uncle Vanya
- 2002: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play – The Crucible
- 2002: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play – The Crucible
- 2002: Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production – Treasure Planet
