Actors - Robert Powell

Home > Listing Index > Actors > Robert Powell

	Actors - Robert Powell

Robert Powell (born June 1, 1944), is a well-known British television and film actor, best-known for the title role in Jesus of Nazareth.

Born in Salford, Manchester, and educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University, Powell took up acting while an undergraduate, but had to wait a few years for his first success, in the BBC's sci-fi series, Doomwatch in 1970. Having been at his request killed off in the last episode of the original series, Powell became a pin-up and a household name, following up with starring roles in several BBC serials, including Sentimental Education and Jude the Obscure.

For several years, Powell continued as a television regular, with occasional forays into film, notably as Mahler in 1974. He also notably played Captain Walker in the 1975 Ken Russell film version of "Tommy". His role had no lines at all and apart from a few early scenes during the overature with Ann-Margaret, he primarily is seen through the mind of his son as played by Barry Winch (Young Tommy) and Roger Daltry. In one of those scenes Captain Walker is shown in a crucifixion pose, which Ken Russell filmed as an in-joke to his portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth which had come out earlier that year.

Then came his most famous role - playing Jesus Christ in the blockbusting mini-series Jesus of Nazareth following a successful second audition with Franco Zeffirelli. He received best actor awards from TV Times (UK) and Italian TV Times, the international arts prize at the Fiuggi Film Festival, grand prize at the Saint-Vincent Film Festival, and a nomination as best actor from The Irish Academy of Film and Television arts.

In 1975, Powell overcame criticism of his lifestyle (surrounding his Jesus of Nazareth role) by marrying his long-standing girlfriend, the Pan's People dancer Babs Lord. In 1977, they had their first son, Barney.

In 1978, Powell took the leading role of Richard Hannay in the third film version of The Thirty-Nine Steps
. Two television series based on the short stories of John Buchan followed during the 1980s.

The 1970s, particularly the Jesus of Nazareth role, proved to be the peak of his career.

In 1980 he appeared in the film Harlequin
playing the Harlequin of the title who seems to have the power to cure the son of a powerful politician.

Powell then agreed to a request from his old friend and golf partner, comedian Jasper Carrott, taking the part of an incompetent detective in a succession of sketches that formed part of Carrott's television series. Several full-length episodes of The Detectives followed.

Nowadays Powell appears in person less often, but his voice is still much heard, on voice-overs, advertisements, and as a narrator of television programmes. From early 2005 he has been appearing in the UK TV soap, Holby City.

In 2000 he opened The Robert Powell Theatre at the University of Salford.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Robert Powell ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Robert Powell; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Actors - Robert Powell

Searches on eBay

Related searches on eBay