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Oliver Reed

Actor

Oliver Reed

Born February 13, 1938 in Wimbledon, London, England, UKDied May 2, 1999105 films

Robert Oliver Reed (February 13, 1938 – May 2, 1999) was an English actor known for his "hellraiser" lifestyle. After making his first significant screen appearances in Hammer Horror films in the early 1960s, his notable films include The Trap (1966), playing Bill Sikes in the 1968 Best Picture Oscar winner Oliver! (a film directed by his uncle Carol Reed), Women in Love (1969), Hannibal Brooks (1969), The Devils (1971), portraying Athos in The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974); the lover and stepfather in Tommy (1975), Funny Bones (1995) and Gladiator (2000).

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For playing Antonius Proximo, the old, gruff gladiator trainer in Ridley Scott's Gladiator, in what was his final film, Reed was posthumously nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2000. At the peak of his career, in 1971, British exhibitors voted Reed fifth most popular star at the box office. The British Film Institute (BFI) stated that "partnerships with Michael Winner and Ken Russell in the mid-60s saw Reed become an emblematic Brit-flick icon", but from the mid-1970s his alcoholism began affecting his career, with the BFI adding "Reed had assumed Robert Newton's mantle as Britain's thirstiest thespian".

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The best way into Oliver Reed's work
Gladiator posterFirst watchGladiator20008.2as ProximoAfter the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus, one of Rome's most capable generals who Marcus preferred.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen poster7.0The Adventures of Baron Munchausen1988The Devils poster7.5The Devils1971The Brood poster6.7The Brood1979Oliver! poster7.0Oliver!1968The Three Musketeers poster6.7The Three Musketeers1973Lion of the Desert poster7.3Lion of the Desert1981Tommy poster6.5Tommy1975Burnt Offerings poster6.5Burnt Offerings1976

Filmography

105 films as actor
  1. 2002L'esattore (parodia de "Il gladiatore")
  2. 2000Orpheus & EurydiceNarrator
  3. 2000GladiatorProximo
  4. 1999Parting ShotsJamie Campbell-Stewart
  5. 1998JeremiahGeneral Safan
  6. 1998The Incredible Adventures of Marco PoloCaptain Cornelius Donovan
  7. 1996The BruceBishop Wisharton
  8. 1996SuperbrainProfessor Norbert Marcus
  9. 1995Funny BonesDolly Hopkins
  10. 1995Luise knackt den JackpotMatthias
  11. 1995Russian Roulette - Moscow 95
  12. 1994The World of Hammer: Trials of WarNarrator
  13. 1992Severed TiesDr. Hans Vaughan
  14. 1991Prisoner of HonorGen. de Boisdeffre
  15. 1991The Pit and the PendulumCardinal
  16. 1990Treasure IslandBilly Bones
  17. 1990Panama SugarGenerale
  18. 1990Hired to KillMichael Bartos
  19. 1990A Ghost in Monte CarloThe Rajah
  20. 1989The House of UsherRoderick Usher
  21. 1989The Return of the MusketeersAthos
  22. 1989The RevengerJack Fisher
  23. 1988Captive RageGeneral Belmondo
  24. 1988The Adventures of Baron MunchausenVulcan
  25. 1988The Lady and the HighwaymanSir Phillip Gage
  26. 1988Rage to KillGeneral Turner
  27. 1988Skeleton CoastCaptain Simpson
  28. 1988Blind JusticeIan Ballinger
  29. 1987The Misfit BrigadeThe General
  30. 1987Master of Dragonard HillCaptain Shanks
  31. 1987DragonardCaptain Shanks
  32. 1987GorSarm
  33. 1986CaptiveGregory Le Vay
  34. 1986CastawayGerald Kingsland
  35. 1985Black ArrowSir Brackley
  36. 1983Two of a KindBeasley
  37. 1983SpasmsJason Kincaid
  38. 1983The Sting IILonnegan
  39. 1983Clash of LoyaltiesColonel Leachman
  40. 1983Fanny HillEdward Widdlecome
  41. 1981VenomDave Averconnelly
  42. 1981CondormanKrokov
  43. 1981Lion of the DesertGeneral Rodolfo Graziani
  44. 1980Dr. Heckyl and Mr. HypeDr. Henry Heckyl/Mr. Hype
  45. 1979A Touch of the SunCaptain Daniel Nelson
  46. 1979The BroodDr. Hal Raglan
  47. 1978The Class Of Miss MacMichaelTerence Sutton
  48. 1978The Big SleepEddie Mars
  49. 1978Tomorrow Never ComesJim Wilson
  50. 1977The Prince and the PauperMiles Hendon
  51. 1977The RansomNick McCormick
  52. 1976Burnt OfferingsBen Rolf
  53. 1976The Great Scout & Cathouse ThursdayJoe Knox
  54. 1976The Sell OutGabriel Lee
  55. 1975Royal FlashOtto von Bismarck
  56. 1975LisztomaniaPrincess Carolyn's Servant
  57. 1975TommyFrank
  58. 1974Blue BloodTom the butler
  59. 1974The Four MusketeersAthos
  60. 1974And Then There Were NoneHugh Lombard
  61. 1974MahlerTrain Conductor (uncredited)
  62. 1973The Three MusketeersAthos
  63. 1973RevolverVito Cipriani
  64. 1973Dirty WeekendFabrizo
  65. 1973One Russian SummerPalizyn
  66. 1972The Triple EchoArthur, the Sergeant
  67. 1972Z.P.G.Russ
  68. 1972Sitting TargetHarry Lomart
  69. 1971The DevilsFather Urbain Grandier
  70. 1971The Hunting PartyFrank Calder
  71. 1970Take a Girl Like YouPatrick Standish
  72. 1970The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a GunMichael Caldwell
  73. 1969Women in LoveGerald Crich
  74. 1969The Assassination BureauIvan Dragomiloff
  75. 1969Hannibal BrooksBrooks
  76. 1968Oliver!Bill Sikes
  77. 1967Dante's InfernoDante Gabriel Rossetti
  78. 1967I'll Never Forget What's'isnameAndrew Quint
  79. 1967The Shuttered RoomEthan
  80. 1967The JokersDavid Tremayne
  81. 1966The TrapLa Bete
  82. 1965The Brigand of KandaharAli Kahn
  83. 1965The Debussy FilmClaude Debussy
  84. 1965The Party's OverMoise
  85. 1964The SystemTinker
  86. 1963The Scarlet BladeCaptain Sylvester
  87. 1963ParanoiacSimon Ashby
  88. 1962The DamnedKing
  89. 1962Captain CleggHarry Cobtree
  90. 1962The Pirates of Blood RiverPirate Brocaire
  91. 1961The Curse of the WerewolfLeon Corledo
  92. 1961The RebelArtist in Cafe
  93. 1961No Love for JohnnieMan with Bucket on His Head (uncredited)
  94. 1961His and HersOliver Borlinski
  95. 1960Sword of Sherwood ForestLord Melton (uncredited)
  96. 1960The Bulldog BreedTeddy Boy in Cinema Fight (uncredited)
  97. 1960The Two Faces of Dr. JekyllNightclub Bouncer (uncredited)
  98. 1960Beat GirlPlaid Shirt
  99. 1960The League of GentlemenChorus Boy (uncredited)
  100. 1960The Angry SilenceMick
  101. 1960Life Is a CircusSpectator at Sideshow (uncredited)
  102. 1959Upstairs and DownstairsTrain Passenger (uncredited)
  103. 1959The Captain's TableSuntanning Passenger (uncredited)
  104. 1958The Square Peg(uncredited)
  105. 1955Value for MoneyExtra (uncredited)