Christopher Malcolm

Christopher Malcolm
Born (1946-08-19)19 August 1946
Aberdeen, Scotland
Died 15 February 2014(2014-02-15) (aged 67)
London, England
Occupation Actor, director and producer
Years active 1968–2011
Spouse(s) Judy Malcolm
Children Marlon Malcolm
Nell Malcolm
Morgan Malcolm

Christopher Malcolm (19 August 1946 – 15 February 2014) was a Scottish television and film actor, director and producer. He first achieved notability 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, Scotland, 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. He appeared in films including The Empire Strikes Back (as Zev Senesca, the Rebel soldier who locates and rescues the stranded Luke Skywalker and Han Solo on planet Hoth), Reds, Ragtime, Labyrinth and Highlander.[1]

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. 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.[2] Malcolm also played the role of the café owner in The Comic Strip's 1984 film "A Fistfull of Traveller's Cheques"

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.[3] 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. 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.

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. 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.

Personal life

Malcolm lived in London with his wife Judy, an actress. She survives him with their three children Nell, Morgan (a playwright and screenwriter) and Marlon and one grandson.[2]

His daughter reported his death from cancer, aged 67, on 15 February 2014, via Twitter.[4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1968A Midsummer Night's DreamAttendant
1969The DesperadosGregg
1970Figures in a LandscapeHelicopter observer
1971Welcome to the ClubPvt. Henry Hoe
1972The Adventures of Barry McKenzieSean[2]
1975The Spiral StaircasePoliceman
1977The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know ItThe Other CIA Man
1978Force 10 from NavaroneRogers
1979The Great Riviera Bank RobberySerge[2]
1980 The Empire Strikes BackRebel Force Zev Senesca (Rogue 2)[1]
The Dogs of WarBaker
1981 Shock TreatmentVance Parker
RagtimePolice Captain No. 2[3]
RedsC.L.P. Party member[2]
1983Superman III1st Miner[3]
1984LassiterQuaid
1985 King DavidDoeg
Rustlers' RhapsodyJud
Spies Like UsJumpmaster
1986 HighlanderKirk Matunas[1]
LabyrinthFather[1]
1987Eat the RichSteinbeck
1988Whoops ApocalypseGallagher

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1983Only Fools and HorsesCharles Winters, the Axe Murderer1 episode, Friday the 14th[3]
1984-1990The Comic StripVarious[5]
1992-2011Absolutely FabulousJustin(final television appearance)[3]
1994LovejoyTexas Greenberg[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Christopher Malcolm, Rocky Horror's Brad, dies aged 67". BBC News. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Michael Coveney (17 February 2014). "Christopher Malcolm obituary". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jenn Selby (18 February 2014). "Christopher Malcolm dead: Tributes flood in for late Star Wars and Rocky Horror Show actor, who died aged 67". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Christopher Malcolm From The Empire Strikes Back & Labyrinth Dies Age 67". The Bearded Trio. 2014-02-16. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  5. ↑ Mark Newbold (18 February 2014). "Christopher Malcolm dies aged 67: Remembering the Empire Strikes Back actor". metro.co.uk. Metro. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
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