Nickolas Grace
Nickolas Grace | |
---|---|
Born |
West Kirby, Cheshire, England | 21 November 1947
Nationality | English |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2011–present |
Nickolas Grace (born 21 November 1947) is an English actor known for his roles on television, including Anthony Blanche in the acclaimed ITV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited, and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1980s series Robin of Sherwood. Grace also played Dorien Green's husband Marcus Green in the 1990s British comedy series Birds of a Feather.
Early life and career
Grace was educated at the King's School, Chester[1] and Forest School, Walthamstow. He trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama, where he still teaches.
Grace made his theatrical debut in weekly rep in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex in 1969, and appeared in Trevor Peacock's Erb later that year, which transferred to the Strand Theatre in spring 1970, his first appearance in the West End. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1972, and in 1973 played Aumerle there in the Ian Richardson/Richard Pasco Richard II, which transferred to Broadway.
He then played Hamlet for the opening of the Playhouse, Derby in 1975. Back at the RSC from 1976-78 he appeared as Dromio of Ephesus in Trevor Nunn's first ever musical, The Comedy of Errors (with Judi Dench, Michael Williams and Roger Rees), Hitler in Schweik and Witwoud in The Way of the World, directed by John Barton.
Brideshead Revisited
Grace secured the part of the flamboyant aesthete Anthony Blanche in Brideshead Revisited, which filmed off and on from 1979 to 1981. Following the success of Brideshead Revisited on television, he played Richard II at the Young Vic in 1981, and Mozart in Amadeus with Frank Finlay at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1982. He then began working in operetta, playing Koko in The Mikado and Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore for Sadler's Wells Opera in repertoire from 1982 until 1986.
Grace was Harry Hamilton-Paul in the film Heat and Dust (1983). It was around this time that he took the role of Robert de Rainault, the Sheriff of Nottingham, in ITV's Robin of Sherwood (1983-86).
Grace's theatre work in the late 1980s and early 1990s included Jenkins' Ear by Dusty Hughes at the Royal Court in 1986, Bernstein's Candide (Old Vic/Scottish Opera/BBC) in 1988-89 and The Mystery of Irma Vep at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester (1990), which transferred to the Ambassadors Theatre. He played Cole Porter in A Swell Party at the Vaudeville in 1991-92 and appeared in Ken Russell's production of Princess Ida for ENO at the Coliseum Theatre in 1992.
1993–present
Following a recurring role in 1993 as the unnamed 'Consultant' on Victor Lewis-Smith's loosely hospital-based sketch show Inside Victor Lewis-Smith, Grace played Marcus Green, the long-suffering husband of Dorien in Birds of a Feather, in a couple of episodes between 1989 and 1997. He has also appeared three times in the BBC Sitcom My Family.
Grace played Underling the Butler in The Drowsy Chaperone with Elaine Paige at the Novello Theatre, which ended its run on 4 August 2007. On 29 July 2009 he appeared on the UK version of Dragons Den as the proposed director of a new touring musical based around the life of Dusty Springfield.
He has a recurring role in some Doctor Who audio plays, produced by Big Finish as a Time Lord ally of the Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller, (Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith) in the plays Human Resources, Sisters of the Flame and Vengeance of Morbius.
He portrayed Albert Einstein in the Doctor Who short "Death is the Only Answer".
In 2012, Grace starred in Chariots of Fire, the stage adaptation of the film of the same title. In it he played the Master of Trinity College at Cambridge University, the role originated on screen by John Gielgud.
TV and filmography
Genre | Year | Title | Episode | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Film | 1960 | City of the DeadThe City of the Dead | uncredited | ||
TV series | 1970 | Z-Cars | "Couple of Comic Turns: Part 2""A Couple of Comic Turns: Part 2" | Private Jefferson | |
TV series | 1971 | Fenn Street GangThe Fenn Street Gang | "Fair Swap""A Fair Swap" | Bernard | |
TV series | 1971 | Kate | "Good Meddle""A Good Meddle" | David Burwood | |
TV series | 1971 | Onedin LineThe Onedin Line | "When My Ship Comes In" | Arab | |
TV series | 1972 | Z-Cars | "Sweet Girl" | Boy | |
TV series | 1975 | Churchill's People | "True Patriots All" | James Loveless | historical drama series |
TV series | 1975 | Love SchoolThe Love School | "Brotherhood""The Brotherhood" | William Rossetti | |
TV series | 1975 | Survivors | "Gone to the Angels" | Matthew | |
TV series | 1975 | Ten from the Twenties | "Anarchist""The Anarchist" | Joe Manders | |
TV series | 1978 | BBC Television Shakespeare | "Comedy of Errors""The Comedy of Errors" | Dromio of Ephesus | |
TV series | 1978 | Pink Medicine ShowThe Pink Medicine Show | |||
TV miniseries | 1979 | Oresteia | "Agamemnon" | Messenger | |
TV series | 1980 | ProfessionalsThe Professionals | "Mixed Doubles" | Joe | |
TV film | 1981 | All's Well That Ends Well | SoldierThe Soldier | ||
TV miniseries | 1981 | Brideshead Revisited | Anthony Blanche | ||
TV series | 1983 | BBC Television Shakespeare | "All's Well That Ends Well" | Soldier | |
TV series | 1983 | Bergerac | "Prime Target" | Inspector Chazottes | |
Film | 1983 | Heat and Dust | Harry Hamilton-Paul | ||
TV film | 1984 | Lace | Sir Christopher Swann | ||
TV film | 1984 | Master of BallantraeThe Master of Ballantrae | Secundra Dass | part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame | |
TV film | 1984 | Morte d'Arthur | Sir Mordred | ||
TV series | 1984 | Robin of Sherwood | "Robin Hood and the Sorcerer" "The Witch of Elsdon" "The King's Fool" "Seven Poor Knights from Acre" "Alan a Dale" "The Children of Israel" |
Robert de Rainault, Sheriff of Nottingham | 17 episodes total |
TV miniseries | 1985 | Last Place on EarthThe Last Place on Earth | Lord Howard De Walden | ||
TV film | 1985 | Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future | Grossman | ||
TV series | 1985 | Robin of Sherwood | "Enchantment""The Enchantment" "The Greatest Enemy" |
Robert de Rainault, Sheriff of Nottingham | 17 episodes total |
TV series | 1986 | C.A.T.S. Eyes | "Powerline" | Jamie Leydon | |
TV series | 1986 | Robin of Sherwood | "Herne's Son: Part 1" "Herne's Son: Part 2" "The Power of Albion" "The Sheriff of Nottingham" "The Betrayal" "Adam Bell" "The Pretender" "The Time of the Wolf: Part 1" "The Time of the Wolf: Part 2" |
Robert de Rainault, Sheriff of Nottingham | 17 episodes total |
TV miniseries | 1987 | Lorca, muerte de un poeta | "Impresiones y paisajes (1903–1918)" "La residencia (1918–1923)" "El amor oscuro (1925–1928)" "El llanto (1929–1935)" "Una guerra civil (1935–1936)" |
Federico García Lorca | 06 episodes total |
TV miniseries | 1987 | Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story | Lord Nelson | ||
Film | 1988 | Dream Demon | Jenny's Father | ||
Film | 1988 | Just Ask for Diamond | Himmell | ||
TV miniseries | 1988 | Lorca, muerte de un poeta | "La muerte (1936)" | Federico García Lorca | 06 episodes total |
Film | 1988 | Salome's Last Dance | Oscar Wilde | ||
TV series | 1989 | Birds of a Feather | "Cheat!" | Marcus Green | 03 episodes total |
TV film | 1989 | Man in the Brown SuitThe Man in the Brown Suit | Guy Underhill | ||
TV miniseries | 1989 | Twist of Fate | Wolf | ||
TV series | 1990 | Cluedo | "Going, Going, Goner" | Peregrine Talbot- Wheeler | |
TV serial | 1990 | Green ManThe Green Man | Rev. Tommy Sonnenscheim | ||
TV film | 1990 | Hands of a Murderer | Oberstein | ||
TV series | 1990 | House of CardsHouse of Cards | "The Final Cut" | Geoffrey Booza-Pitt | |
TV series | 1991 | Tonight at 8.30 | "Hands Across the Sea" | Bogie Gosling | |
TV series | 1992 | Absolutely Fabulous | "Fashion" | Jonny | |
TV series | 1992 | Alas Smith and Jones | "Episode #7.4" | ||
TV series | 1992 | Casebook of Sherlock HolmesThe Casebook of Sherlock Holmes | "Master Blackmailer""The Master Blackmailer" | Bertrand | |
TV series | 1992 | Lovejoy | "Angel Trousers" | Jeremy Prince | |
TV series | 1993 | Birds of a Feather | "Suspicious Minds" | Marcus Green | 03 episodes total |
TV series | 1993 | Inside Victor Lewis-Smith | ConsultantThe Consultant | ||
TV series | 1993 | Inspector Alleyn MysteriesThe Inspector Alleyn Mysteries | "Man Lay Dead""A Man Lay Dead" | Dr. Hans Hoffner | |
TV series | 1993 | Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | "Prague, August 1917" | Prague Spy/ClouseauThe Prague Spy/Clouseau | |
TV series | 1994 | ChiefThe Chief | "Episode #4.8" | Sir Oliver Creighton | |
Short film | 1994 | Ole | 31 minutes; directed by Dennis Iliadis | ||
TV film | 1994 | Sharpe's Honour | Father Hacha | ||
TV series | 1994 | Space Precinct | "Double Duty" | Oturi Nissim | |
Film | 1994 | Tom & Viv | Bertrand Russel | ||
TV series | 1995 | Bugs | "Hot Metal" | Raymond Charlesworth | |
TV serial | 1995 | Final CutThe Final Cut | Geoffrey Booza Pitt | ||
Animated film | 1995 | Pocahontas | voice actor | ||
TV film | 1995 | Solomon & Sheba | Jeroboam | ||
Film | 1995 | Two Deaths | Marius Vernescu | ||
TV series | 1996 | Delta Wave | "Glitch in Time""A Glitch in Time: Part 1" "A Glitch in Time: Part 2" "Dodgy Jammers: Part 1" "Dodgy Jammers: Part 2" |
Stump | 04 episodes |
Film | 1996 | Evita | Tailor | cameo | |
TV series | 1996 | Tales from the Crypt | "Escape" | Albert Frye/Lieutenant Forsyth | |
Video | 1997 | Absolutely Fabulous | "Absolutely Not!" | Jonny | |
TV series | 1997 | Birds of a Feather | "Rising Damp" | Marcus Green | 03 episodes total |
Video | 1997 | Caught in the Act | Melvin (Ventriloquist) | produced by Barrie Goulding | |
TV film | 1997 | HunchbackThe Hunchback | Gauchére | ||
Film | 1997 | Shooting Fish | Mr. Stratton-Luce | ||
TV series | 1998 | Britain's Richest People | Narrator | ||
TV miniseries | 1998 | Merlin | Sir Egbert | ||
Film | 1999 | Ideal HusbandAn Ideal Husband | Vicomte de Nanjac | ||
TV film | 2000 | Cinderella | First Minister | ||
Film | 2000 | Golden BowlThe Golden Bowl | Lecturer | ||
TV series | 2000 | Midsomer Murders | "Judgement Day" | Frank Mannion | 02 episodes total |
Video game | 2001 | In Cold Blood | John Cord / Technicians | voice actor | |
TV series | 2001 | My Family | "Driving Miss Crazy" | Mr. Casey | 03 episodes total |
TV serial | 2002 | Daniel Deronda | Vandernoodt | ||
Film | 2002 | Puckoon | Foggerty | ||
Short film | 2002 | Putting Down the King | |||
TV film | 2005 | Agatha Christie's Marple | "Sleeping Murder" | Lionel Luff | Agatha Christie's Marple TV series |
TV serial | 2005 | Casanova | French Chancellor | ||
TV series | 2005 | Egypt | "Search for Tutankhamun""The Search for Tutankhamun" | Anton Badrutt | |
TV film | 2005 | Ian Fleming: Bondmaker | William Plomer | docudrama about Ian Fleming | |
Film | 2005 | Splinter | Glasses | ||
TV film | 2006 | CommanderThe Commander | "Blacklight" | Reginald Aitken | The Commander TV series |
Film | 2006 | Confetti | Judge | ||
TV film | 2006 | Shell SeekersThe Shell Seekers | Mundy | ||
Film | 2006 | These Foolish Things | Nathaniel Meadowsweet | ||
Short film | 2007 | Mr Thornton's Change of Heart | Cupid | 12 minutes | |
Film | 2008 | Affinity | Mr. Hither | ||
TV series | 2008 | BillThe Bill | "Body of Evidence" | Richard Stirling | |
TV series | 2008 | My Family | "Neighbour Wars" | Mr. Casey | 03 episodes total |
TV series | 2009 | Casual+y | "Trap""The Trap" | Dennis | |
TV series | 2009 | Midsomer Murders | "Creeper""The Creeper" | Hugo Greening | 02 episodes total |
TV series | 2009 | Minder | "Art of the Matter""The Art of the Matter" | Tasty Tim | |
Short film | 2010 | Hardest PartThe Hardest Part | Victor | 14 minutes | |
TV series | 2010 | My Family | "Mary Christmas" | Mr. Casey | 03 episodes total |
TV series | 2010 | Piers Morgan's Life Stories | "Joan Collins" | Himself | |
TV series | 2011 | Doctor Who | "Death Is the Only Answer" | Albert Einstein | |
TV series | 2011 | Doctor Who Confidential | "About a Boy" "Heartbreak Hotel" |
Himself / Albert Einstein | documentary series |
References
- ↑ "Inspirational Alumni Members". The King's School Chester. Retrieved 2 December 2011.