Christopher Malcolm
{{short description|Scottish actor and producer (1946–2014)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Christopher Malcolm
| image = Christopher Malcolm.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|8|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Aberdeen, Scotland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|2|15|1946|8|19|df=y}}
| death_place = London, England
| occupation = Actor, producer, director
| years_active = 1968–2011
| spouse = Judy Malcolm
| children = 3
| website =
}}
Christopher Malcolm (19 August 1946 – 15 February 2014) was a British born Canadian actor and theatrical producer. He first achieved notoriety for his role as Brad Majors in the original stage production of The Rocky Horror Show.
Early life and education
Malcolm was born in Aberdeen and was brought up in Canada after his family emigrated to British Columbia in the late 1940s. He attended the University of British Columbia, where he worked and studied theatre.
Career
After university, he returned to the UK and began his professional career with the Royal Shakespeare Company (1966–68). He appeared in at least ten productions and worked with directors including Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn and John Barton. Throughout the 1970s, he worked continuously in theatre and film, appearing in many Royal Court productions including the award-winning musical, The Rocky Horror Show creating the role of Brad Majors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-christopher-malcolm-actor-and-producer-1-3311102|title=Obituary: Christopher Malcolm, actor and producer|website=www.scotsman.com}} He appeared in films including The Empire Strikes Back (as Zev Senesca, the Alliance pilot who locates and rescues the stranded Luke Skywalker and Han Solo on planet Hoth), Reds, Ragtime, Superman III, Labyrinth, and Highlander.{{cite news|title=Christopher Malcolm, Rocky Horror's Brad, dies aged 67|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26240620|accessdate=16 March 2016|publisher=BBC News|date=18 February 2014}}
In 1978, Malcolm began his producing career with Pal Joey, which was successfully transferred to the West End in 1980 and was nominated for best Musical Revival in the Laurence Olivier Awards. He followed this success with the Best Comedy award in 1981 for Nell Dunn's Steaming, which went on to play for two years at the Comedy Theatre and around the world.{{Cite web|url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1981/|title=Olivier Winners 1981|website=Olivier Awards}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/christopher-malcolm-24485|title=Christopher Malcolm – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB|website=www.ibdb.com}} Other productions in London included Frankie and Johnny, When I Was A Young Girl I Used To Scream And Shout, as well as five Steven Berkoff plays, including Decadence, Greek and Metamorphosis.{{cite web|author1=Michael Coveney|title=Christopher Malcolm obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/feb/17/christopher-malcolm|website=The Guardian|accessdate=16 March 2016|date=17 February 2014}} in 1983 he appeared in Only Fools and Horses as axe murderer Charles Winters. Malcolm also played the role of the café owner in The Comic Strip's 1984 film "A Fistful of Traveller's Cheques".{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=10937|title=Christopher Malcolm|website=www.aveleyman.com}}
In 1990, Malcolm co-produced a new production of The Rocky Horror Show at the Piccadilly Theatre, in partnership with Howard Panter of the Ambassador Theatre Group.{{cite news|author1=Jenn Selby|title=Christopher Malcolm dead: Tributes flood in for late Star Wars and Rocky Horror Show actor, who died aged 67|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/christopher-malcolm-dead-tributes-flood-in-for-late-star-wars-and-rocky-horror-show-actor-who-died-9136659.html|website=independent.co.uk|publisher=The Independent|accessdate=16 March 2016|date=18 February 2014}} This Olivier nominated production went on to huge success throughout the UK, enjoying 4 nationwide tours over the next 10 years as well as many productions throughout the world. He oversaw these productions on behalf of The Rocky Horror Company Ltd, a company formed by the producers and the play's author Richard O'Brien to look after this much loved musical.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-organization/the-rocky-horror-company-ltd-75701|title=The Rocky Horror Company, Ltd. – Broadway Organization | IBDB|website=www.ibdb.com}} The show finally reached Broadway in 2000 in a Tony Award-nominated production co-produced with Jordan Roth Productions at the Circle in the Square theatre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-rocky-horror-show-12547#Awards|title=The Rocky Horror Show – Broadway Musical – 2000 Revival | IBDB}}
Other British productions throughout this time include The Pajama Game, Footloose the Musical, and the award-winning Single Spies written by Alan Bennett which had a very successful year at the Queen's Theatre. He co-produced the world premiere of Flashdance The Musical which premiered at the Plymouth Theatre Royal in 2008, toured the UK and presented at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2010. The final show he produced was 'Oh! What a Lovely War!' at Stratford East which was directed by Terry Johnson and opened in January 2014 to critical acclaim. He had maintained his interest in acting as well, appearing on 11 episodes of Absolutely Fabulous as Saffy's father, Justin, and in the BBC2 film, Daphne as Nelson Doubleday.{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/578989/credits.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2003) Credits|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/Daphne/295538/|title=Daphne (2007)|via=www.blu-ray.com}}
Personal life
Malcolm lived in London with his wife Judy Lloyd, an actress. They had three children, Nell, Morgan, and Marlon.
His daughter Morgan Lloyd Malcolm reported his death from cancer, aged 67, on 15 February 2014, via Twitter.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebeardedtrio.com/2014/02/christopher-malcolm-from-empire-strikes.html |title=Christopher Malcolm From The Empire Strikes Back & Labyrinth Dies Age 67 |publisher=The Bearded Trio |date=16 February 2014 |accessdate=21 December 2016}}
Filmography
= Film =
class="wikitable" | ||||
Year | Title | Role | Notes | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |
---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Attendant | ||
1969 | The Desperados | Gregg | ||
1970 | Figures in a Landscape | Helicopter observer | ||
1971 | Welcome to the Club | Pvt. Henry Hoe | ||
1972 | The Adventures of Barry McKenzie | Sean | ||
1975 | The Spiral Staircase | Policeman | ||
1977 | The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It | The Other CIA Man | ||
1978 | Force 10 from Navarone | Rogers | ||
1979 | The Great Riviera Bank Robbery | Serge | ||
rowspan="2"| 1980 | Zev Senesca (Rogue 2) | |||
The Dogs of War | Baker | |||
rowspan="3"| 1981 | Vance Parker | |||
Ragtime | Police Captain No. 2 | |||
Reds | C.L.P. Party member | |||
1983 | Superman III | 1st Miner | ||
1984 | Lassiter | Quaid | ||
rowspan="3"| 1985 | Doeg | |||
Rustlers' Rhapsody | Jud | |||
Spies Like Us | Jumpmaster | |||
rowspan="2"| 1986 | Kirk Matunas | |||
Labyrinth | Robert | |||
1987 | Eat the Rich | Steinbeck | ||
1988 | Whoops Apocalypse | Gallagher |
= Television =
class="wikitable" | ||||
Year | Title | Role | Notes | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |
---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | Strange Report | Slaon | 1 episode, "Report 3906: Cover Girls - Last Year's Model" | |
rowspan="2"| 1971 | The first officer | 1 episode "The Switch" | ||
Justice | Farrer | 1 episode "People Have Too Many Rights" | ||
1972 | The Protectors | Malloy | 1 episode, "Disappearing Trick" | |
rowspan="2"| 1973 | Jock | Television Movie | ||
Harriet's Back in Town | Benjamin Finch | 2 episodes | ||
1974 | Disneyland | Jock | 3 episodes, "Diamonds on Wheels" | |
rowspan="3"| 1975
| Thriller | Hank | 1 episode, "Won't Write Home Mom – I'm Dead" | ||
Edward the Seventh | American Attaché | 1 episode, "The New World" | ||
It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow | The Yank | Television Movie | ||
1976 | Second Verdict | Mullaly | 1 episode, "Lizzie Borden" | |
1977 | Raffles | Barney Maguire | 1 episode, "A Trap to "Catch a Cracksman" | |
rowspan="2"| 1980 | Matt | 1 episode, "Instant Enlightenment Including VAT" | ||
Oppenheimer | Steve Nelson | 2 episodes | ||
rowspan="3"| 1982 | Motorcycle Cop | 1 episode, "How To Get Rid of It" | ||
We'll Meet Again | Master Sgt. Mac McGraw | 10 episodes | ||
Beau Geste | Hank | 5 episodes | ||
rowspan="2"| 1983
| The Last Day | American at Airport | Television Movie | ||
Only Fools and Horses | Charles Winters, the Axe Murderer | 1 episode, Friday the 14th | ||
1984–1990 | The Comic Strip | Brother-in-law, Cafe Owner | 2 episodes | {{cite web|author1=Mark Newbold|title=Christopher Malcolm dies aged 67: Remembering the Empire Strikes Back actor|url=http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/18/christopher-malcolm-dies-aged-67-remembering-the-empire-strikes-back-actor-4307821/|website=metro.co.uk|publisher=Metro|accessdate=6 May 2016|date=18 February 2014}} |
rowspan="3"| 1986
| The Daily Woman | Max Callisher | Television Movie | ||
The Last Days of Patton | Maj. Ken Morgan (Hospital PAO) | Television Movie | ||
The Ted Kennedy Jr. Story | Ben Gibbs | Television Movie | ||
1987 | Pulaski | Tony | 1 episode, "The Lone Granger" | |
1988 | War and Remembrance | Bunky Thurston | 2 episodes | |
1992–1994 | Firm Friends | Eddie Vincent | 2 episodes | |
1992–2011 | Absolutely Fabulous | Justin | 11 episodes (final appearance) | |
1994 | Lovejoy | Texas Greenberg | 1 episode | |
1996 | Over Here | Murphy | Television Movie | |
2007 | Daphne | Nelson Doubleday | Television Movie | {{cite web |title=Daphne (2007) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1193665-daphne |website=Rotten Tomatoes}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0539095}}
- {{IBDB name|24485}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malcolm, Christopher}}
Category:Deaths from cancer in England
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male stage actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Canadian musical theatre directors
Category:Film directors from British Columbia
Category:Canadian television directors
Category:Scottish male film actors
Category:Scottish male stage actors
Category:Scottish male television actors
Category:Scottish film directors
Category:Scottish television directors
Category:Scottish emigrants to Canada
Category:Scottish people of English descent
Category:Male actors from British Columbia
Category:20th-century Canadian male actors
Category:20th-century Canadian male musicians
Category:20th-century Scottish male actors
Category:20th-century Scottish musicians
Category:21st-century Canadian male actors
Category:21st-century Canadian male musicians
Category:21st-century Scottish male actors