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Alan BatesBritish theatre and television actor.
Date of Birth: 17.02.1934
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Alan Bates: A Legendary British Actor
- Theatre and Television Debut
- Film Breakthrough
- International Acclaim
- Later Career
- Legacy and Honors
- Personal Life
Alan Bates: A Legendary British Actor
Early Life and EducationAlan Bates was born on February 17, 1934, in Allestree, Derbyshire, England. The eldest of three children, his parents hoped he would pursue music, but Bates' heart was set on the stage. At age 11, he enrolled in drama classes before winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). There, he studied alongside Albert Finney and Peter O'Toole.
Theatre and Television Debut
After serving two years in the Royal Air Force, Bates joined the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre. In 1956, at the age of 22, he made his West End debut as Cliff in "Look Back in Anger," a performance that catapulted him to stardom. Bates continued to appear on stage and television throughout his career.
Film Breakthrough
In the late 1950s, Bates starred in several British television plays. His first film role came in 1960's "The Entertainer," alongside Laurence Olivier. He followed this success with roles in "Whistle Down the Wind" (1961), "A Kind of Loving" (1962), "Zorba the Greek" (1964), "King of Hearts" (1966), "Georgy Girl" (1966), "Far from the Madding Crowd" (1967), and "The Fixer" (1968), for which he earned an Oscar nomination.
International Acclaim
In 1969, Bates starred in "Women in Love." The following year, he was cast in director John Schlesinger's "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" (1971), but production conflicts and his fatherhood responsibilities led to the role being offered to Ian Bannen and eventually Peter Finch, who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance. Bates also appeared in Lawrence Olivier's film adaptation of Chekhov's "Three Sisters."
Later Career
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Bates continued to work in film and television, including roles in "An Unmarried Woman" (1978), "Nijinsky" (1980), "The Rose" (1979), and "The Mayor of Casterbridge" (1978), which he considered his greatest performance. In 1990, he played Claudius in Mel Gibson's "Hamlet."
Legacy and Honors
Bates was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1996 and knighted in 2003. He was a Fellow of RADA and a patron of the Actor's Centre in Covent Garden from 1994.
Personal Life
Bates married actress Victoria Ward in 1970. They had twin sons that year, who both became actors: Benedict Bates and Tristan Bates (who died of an asthma attack in 1990). In honor of their deceased son, the Bates family established the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden.
Throughout his life, Bates had numerous homosexual relationships, including with actors Nicholas Grace and Peter Wingard and Olympic figure skater John Curry, and was open about his sexuality to the press. Despite this, he was adored by women for his handsome looks and beautiful voice.
In his later years, Bates lived with his longtime companion, actress Joanna Pettet. He also had a close friendship with actor Ian Charleson. Bates passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2003. Despite his illness, he continued to work and remained resolute in his belief of recovery until the end.
