Robert Stephens
| Sir Robert Stephens | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Robert Graham Stephens 14 July 1931 Bristol, England |
| Died | 12 November 1995 (aged 64) London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1956–95 |
| Spouse(s) |
Nora Ann Simmonds (m. 1951; div. 1952) Tarn Bassett (m. 1956; div. 1967) Dame Maggie Smith (m. 1967; div. 1974) Patricia Quinn (m. 1995) |
| Children | 4, including Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin |
Sir Robert Graham Stephens (14 July 1931 – 12 November 1995) was a leading English actor in the early years of Britain's Royal National Theatre. He was one of the most respected actors of his generation and was at one time regarded as the natural successor to Laurence Olivier.
Stephens was born in Shirehampton, Bristol, Gloucestershire, in 1931. At age 18 he won a scholarship to Esme Church's Bradford Civic Theatre School, Yorkshire, (where he met his first wife Nora, a fellow student). His first professional engagement was with the Caryl Jenner Mobile Theatre, which he followed in 1951 by a year of more challenging parts in repertory at the Royalty Theatre, Morecambe, followed by seasons of touring and at the Hippodrome, Preston. The London director Tony Richardson saw a performance at the Royalty and this led to an offer of a place in the "momentous" first season of English Stage Company at the Royal Court in 1956. His success was assured.
His early films included A Taste of Honey (1961), Cleopatra (1963) and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) with his then wife Maggie Smith. There was also a minor role as Prince Escalus in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet (1968), as well as a starring role in Billy Wilder's The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) and the science fiction film, The Asphyx (1973).
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