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Denis Quilley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Denis Clifford Quilley (b. December 26, 1927, Islington, North London - d. October 5, 2003) was an English theatre, television and film character actor who was long associated with the Royal National Theatre.
A generation of children grew up with his portrayal of Commander Traynor in the children's science fiction TV series Timeslip. He was also heard in many television voiceovers.
He had long runs on London's West End during the 1950s in Wild Thyme and Grab Me a Gondola. In the 1970s he appeared with the Royal National Theatre in Macbeth, Hamlet, The Tempest and Long Day's Journey Into Night, alongside Laurence Olivier in the last.
In 1980, he played the title role in Stephen Sondheim's Grand Guignol musical Sweeney Todd and in 1982 he played Terri Dennis in Peter Nichols' play, Privates on Parade (he appeared in the film version of Privates on Parade as well).
His screen appearances grew increasingly rare in later life, one of his few starring appearances being as Saint Peter in the international drama mini-series, A.D..
He did the voice of Molokov, a second to a Russian chess champion on the concept album of the musical Chess in 1984.
One of his last stage performances was as Elisha Whitney in a Cole Porter revue. He was to have been in the musical Anything Goes at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, but was too unwell to make the transfer from the National Theatre to the West End.
He was working on his autobiography (ISBN 1-84002-268-X) in the months before he died at his home in London, aged 75, from liver cancer.