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Donald PleasenceActor
Date of Birth: 05.01.1919
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Biography of Donald Pleasence
- The Great Escape and International Success
- Versatility and Villainous Roles
- Family and Legacy
Biography of Donald Pleasence
Donald Pleasence was a British actor known for his work in both Hollywood films and British theater and television. He first appeared on the London stage in 1939 in a production of "Wuthering Heights". During World War II, Pleasence served in the Royal Air Force and spent the last year of the war in a prisoner of war camp in Germany.
The Great Escape and International Success
In 1950, Pleasence traveled to New York with Laurence Olivier, who brought his play "Caesar and Cleopatra". This marked Pleasence's first visit to New York, and since then, he has divided his time between Hollywood films and British theater and television. In 1958, Pleasence was named the best actor of the year by television. Shortly after, he was cast in the film "The Great Escape" in 1963, which was a huge international success and opened up more interesting roles for Pleasence in America.
Versatility and Villainous Roles
Pleasence became known for his portrayal of villains, and he couldn't help but notice that he often played in horror films. He appeared in films such as "Halloween", "The Devil's Men", and "Buried Alive", realizing that he was often cast in unconventional movies. From 1987 to 1989, Pleasence appeared in seventeen films, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
Family and Legacy
Throughout his life, Pleasence was married four times and had six daughters, including Angela, who also became an actress. In 1994, Pleasence underwent surgery just before Christmas, but a few months later, he passed away for reasons that were never fully explained. He left behind a legacy as a talented and versatile actor, with a filmography that includes a range of genres from thrillers to science fiction.