Nigel Green

Nigel McGown Green
Green in trailer for "The Ipcress File" (1965)
Born	(1924-10-15)15 October 1924 Pretoria, South Africa
Died	15 May 1972(1972-05-15) (aged 47) Brighton, Sussex, England, UK
Cause of death	accidental barbiturate overdose
Years active	1952–1972
Spouse(s)	Patricia Marmont Pamela Gordon (?-1972) (his death) (1 child)

Nigel McGown Green (15 October 1924 – 15 May 1972) was a South African-born English character actor. Because of his strapping build and commanding demeanour he would often be found playing military types and men of action in such classic sixties films as Jason and the Argonauts, Zulu, Tobruk and The Ipcress File.

The son of a professor, Green attended King's College School, Wimbledon and the University of London followed by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During the Second World War, he trained as an Observer in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

He appeared on stage at the Old Vic before making his first forays into British films and television in the mid-1950s.

Early film roles include Reach for the Sky (1956), The Criminal (1960), The League of Gentlemen (1960) and Beat Girl (1960). His large physique led to his being cast as Little John in the film Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960).

He had one of his most memorable roles as Hercules in Jason and the Argonauts (1963) followed by his co-starring role as Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne in Zulu (1964). He had a leading role as Nayland Smith in The Face of Fu Manchu (1965) and in the supporting role of Major Dalby in The Ipcress File (also 1965) where he played the immediate superior of Michael Caine's secret agent Harry Palmer.